Our trip to the beach was fun. We did what all families would usually do, go to the ice cream stall, buy cute jewellery from the gift shops, sunbathe and swim in the ocean.
It felt so good until dad would slow down and tell us that he was ok and that we should carry on. That's when reality would hit me and mom again and we'd try to push it to the back of our minds and have fun but there was so escaping the truth that; he wasn't going to be with us anymore.
The car journey home was fun. We played my Dads favourite Whitney Houston cd and sang along to the top of our lungs. By the time we got home our voices were stripped bare and rusty. None of us cared.
At the dinner table I decided to ask about meeting Bruno tomorrow.
"Do you guys mind if I go out and meet someone tomorrow?"
They both nodded, "of course."
"Who are you meeting?" My Dad asked.
"Just someone I met at the university." I replied honestly.
"A boy?"
"Yes."
"Hmm.." He grunted, scratching his head. "I want to meet him.
I nearly choked on my food.
"What? Why?"
"Well if my daughter is going to hang around with a guy then I think I should meet him, don't you think so Maggie?" He looked at my mom and she just laughed and said,
"
"We're just friends I don't see why you want to meet-"
"Idalis, I want to meet him." He smiled and I smiled back, giving into him easily.
"Whatever then."
I carried on eating my food.
How the hell was I supposed to tell Bruno that my dad wanted to meet him?!
I couldn't let my parents meet Bruno, he has no manors, he constantly smells of cigarettes and-
I would just have to go through with it, besides, it was what my dad wanted.
The next day came fast and before I knew it it was 12:20.
"Can I borrow the car?" I asked dad.
"Sure, don't forget to bring this fella back later."
I rolled my eyes, taking the car keys from him and running to the door.
I felt nervous.
What would we say to one another?
What if he tried to kiss me again? Would I let him?
I pulled up in the parking lot outside the small cafe/restaurant. Bruno's RV was already parked up. My stomach started churning.
As I got to the entrance I saw him. He made his way over to me and there he was. Standing right in front of me.
He smelt so good, he wasn't wearing a fedora and his hair was slicked back into a whomp style; he was wearing his black jeans that he usually wore with a patterned shirt; it was unbuttoned dangerously low and he was wearing a few necklaces.
"Idalis." His face lit up.
I smiled, "hi Bruno."
"How is everything?" He asked genuinely.
"Ok.. Could be better but we're doing fine."
He nodded, gesturing towards the doors. "Should we talk inside?"
I smiled and nodded. Unexpectedly his hand brushed against mine lightly.
I stared at the floor awkwardly as we made our way over to a table that we reserved.
We sat opposite one another with our food. It was going well actually. We spoke about how my family were doing, how Bruno was doing back at university and just casual things.
"This is really complicated but..what's happening between us? I mean..you know how I feel about you and-"
"I don't know." I said quietly, "I need some time. I'm sorry."
His serious face broke out into a small smile, "I understand."
I was beginning to feel more and more comfortable around Bruno so I decided to tell him..
"Bruno?.."
"Hm?"
"My dad...he uh- I told him that I was meeting you today and he insisted on meeting you.."
I waited for his reaction nervously.
He grin grew wider.
"I would love to."
I sighed with relief. I was warming up to Bruno quite a bit actually, he was being so charming and sweet, I guess I judged him too quickly back in university.
After we finished eating we both drove back to my house, Bruno followed behind me in his RV.
I unlocked the door and we stepped in. I felt so calm about everything. I shut the door behind me.
Bruno looked around the hallway casually, peering at the family photos on the walls.
I called, "Mom? Dad?"
Bruno followed me around the house as I checked every single room for them. They weren't home.
I sat on the couch feeling confused and Bruno sat next to me.
"Looks like we have a free place." He said jokingly and winked at me. I laughed, nudging him in the arm.
Then it hit me.
They would have called me to tell me if they were going out. This must be an emergency.
My stomach dropped.
Dad.
My face must have shown how I was feeling as Bruno spoke softly to me.
"What's the matter?"
I looked at him and instantly he knew what I was thinking. His face dropped.
I ran to the phone, dialling my moms number into it with shaky hands.
She answered straight away.
"Idalis, honey. Please don't panic but we are at the hospital-"
"I'll be there in ten minutes."
I put the phone down and ran back to Bruno who was sitting on my couch looking quite lost and worried.
"Could you take me to the hospital?" I asked in a whisper, trying to keep myself calm.
He nodded, "is everything ok?"
"I don't know."
It turned out that there was nothing to worry about at all, my dad was called up to come into hospital for a last minute check up scan on his brain.
I felt bad for asking Bruno to wait outside for me..it was only because I had no idea what I was about to walk into. It could've been anything.
But after at least fifteen minutes talking with the doctor and my parents to make sure everything was fine I left them.
Bruno was sitting on a bench outside the hospital when I approached him. I sat close next to him.
He looked at me startled, "is everything ok?
I nodded, "just a check up. I'm sorry for dragging you out here."
"No don't worry about it. I'm just glad everything is ok."
At that point I felt like crying.
I didn't deserve to know someone as sweet and understanding as Bruno.
At that point I didn't even care what he had done in the past. Slept with other girls on a regular basis, got wasted nearly every night, I didn't care. That wasn't the Bruno I knew.
The Bruno sitting next to me was sweet and caring and I never wanted to loose him.
