Maria

Chapter 15

Pulling up to the long cobblestone driveway with skinny evergreen pine trees outlining the edge, my anxiety grows more. I know I'm anxious when I feel the AC wind more keenly in my eyes; it's that tearless stage when the eyes take on a sheen of water and a tension builds behind them. I need to shake it off. Now isn't the time or place to get scared. This evening is a day for gallows humour and false confidence. My fingers wrap into Luca's hand, feeling how warm his fingers are. When he turns my way to smile, a gesture meant to reassure and give confidence, he gives away the worry he means to mask.

Manicured bushes grew at the front complimenting the little colored flowers which led directly to the colossal structure. The mansion loomed proudly behind freshly painted black iron gates, flanked by rows of full trees crowned in emerald, swaying gently to the slight chill of the summer wind. At its threshold stood the delicate marble fountain, the soft gurgling of the clear water melodic as it resonated in the surrounding silence. The limo came to a roundabout with a fountain at the center, swept around it, and continued up toward a fantastic sprawling house. It was Victorian, grey brick topped with copper domes. There must have been at least a hundred windows on five floors facing the drive. It was a house that just didn't know where to stop.

"What's my mom's name?"

"Anna" I sighed.

"And she loves to?"

"Cook" I reply out of breath.

"My dad's name is?"

"Mikey, babe I've met him at the party, I know his name" I chuckled anxiously.

"Yeah just making sure, are you scared?" Luca asks looking down at our hands, noticing that I was unintentionally digging my nails into the webbing of his fingers.

"Scared doesn't even come close to how I feel right now" I exhaled and gave him a shy smile while loosening the death grip I had on his hand.

"It's okay they're going to love you" He assures me once more with a slight squeeze of my hand.

"Okay, I think I'm ready" I look back up at him and then back out the window glancing at the grand manor that stood before me.

"Okay" he opens the door on his side and runs over to mine and unlocked mine and laid out his hand for me to take.

I step out and hear my heels click meeting the concrete floor, I slide my hand onto his and intertwined our fingers.

"Do I look okay? Should I tie my hair or something?" I ask frantically as we strolled up to the grey stoned staircase that led to the front door.

"Yeah, you look fine, more than fine you look amazing." Luca gives me a cheeky smile causing my cheeks to warm up.

"Ready?" He says as he puts his hand on the golden door handle.

"Sure" I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly as he opened the sumptuous door.

Walking inside our steps echoed on the carefully cleaned white marbled flooring, my short, nervous breaths the only other sound I could hear.

"I'm home!" Luca yelled out leading me to the kitchen.

"Hi my baby!" A short tan woman with thick black hair that went down to her shoulders dropped a pan and yelped as she ran over to Luca to welcome him with a loud smooch on the cheek. I giggled as I watched Luca pull away in embarrassment.

"And who is this might be?" She looks at me with her big espresso brown eyes glistening with a wide friendly smile. I noticed that she spoke in broken english, her thick Italian accent had answered my question about where she came from.