If you play with fire.. you get burned

Chapter 27

Robert had asked the florist for three bouquets in order to give one to Elena, one to Sandra and one to Michelle. For Johnny, however, they had taken a bottle of a typical alcoholic drink that the florist had recommended. After taking everything, Andy and Robert headed to Elena and Sandra's house. Andy was feeling a little nervous because she was going to meet two other people in the family and hoped to be well with them too. Robert was also feeling nervous because this would be the first time he would know the family of the woman he was dating. Andy and Robert had been standing in front of Elena's front door for more than ten minutes and still hadn't decided to ring the bell.

Robert: "What do you want to do? Did you change your mind? If you want to go back to the hotel, let's leave immediately"

Andy: "No, I haven't changed my mind. I just.. I don't know"

Robert: "Do I ring the bell?"

Andy: "Yeah"

Robert rang the bell and then Andy took his hand and squeezed it tightly. After a few seconds Elena opened the door and welcomed Andy and Robert into the house. Andy was the first to enter the house and immediately felt like she was with family. Robert delivered the flowers to Elena, Sandra and Michelle and the bottle of liquor to Johnny.

Elena: "Thanks for the flowers, they are very beautiful"

Sandra: "Thank you"

Michelle: "I don't know how you did it, but these are my favorite flowers" she said smiling. "Anyway I'm Michelle"

Robert: "Nice to meet you Michelle, I'm Robert"

Andy: "And I'm.."

Michelle: "You are Andy, my cousin" she replied hugging Andy. "I'm glad you didn't die and now you're here with us"

Andy: "Thanks" she replied with a weak smile.

Johnny: "Thanks for this" he said pointing to the bottle Robert had given him.

Elena ushered Andy and Robert into the living room, but no one spoke. They looked into each other's eyes, but no one had said a word yet. All this time Andy was holding Robert's hand and squeezing it pretty tightly. At one point Sandra decided to break the ice by asking Andy and Robert something.

Sandra: "So.. have you already had the opportunity to take a tour in the city center?"

Andy: "Yes, yesterday"

Robert: "You have already found many things to buy"

Andy: "I just found some presents for the kids"

Elena: "Kids? Do you have kids?"

Andy: "No, we don't have kids. They are our nephews"

Elena: "Oh. Do they live in Seattle too?"

Robert: "They currently live in Miami, but will soon be moving to Seattle"

Elena: "Understood"

Michelle: "I'm very curious, how did you meet?"

Andy: "At work. We're both firefighters and he's my Captain"

Michelle: "Oh wow, that's very romantic" Andy and Robert laughed.

Andy: "Well, at first we hated each other, but then.."

Robert: "But then we got married" he replied smiling.

Johnny: "So you became a firefighter like your father"

Andy: "Yes. I grew up at the station, every day when I left school I was always there and I fell in love with that job. It was nice to be able to work together with my father"