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He slowly walked me into the restaurant without saying a word. He walked with so much confidence as we walked in front of a line of people being welcomed by Mark, the owner himself. I knew he was the owner, because his face was all over the place. Mark grabbed Tony in a bear hug and whispered something in his ear. They laughed and acted as if they were old friends as Mark led us to our table. I was impressed that Tony knew the owner, but I wouldn't dare let him know that. I wanted to know the history between the two, but I didn't want to be obviously nosy. When we reached the table, Tony finally spoke in my direction as he introduced me to Mark. Mark and I traded greetings and he exited by giving Tony a thumbs up. Sitting across from Tony was like a dream. When he looked at me, his eyes had a way of making me feel as if nothing was more important than that very moment.
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I guess you can say, I was lost in his eyes. It sounds silly and childish, but it was the truth. I had never felt such a connection with someone in my life. This was very new for me. His demeanor and confidence sent chills of excitement through my body. I pretended to be reading the menu, but I was actually so nervous that I couldn't see straight. Tony's deep voice interrupted my thinking, by calling my name.
"Candy, how are you feeling today?"
My response was brief because I was caught off guard. "I'm fine".
"Tony, I want you to relax and enjoy yourself. It's been a long week and I'm looking forward to this date."
After ordering drinks I began to loosen up and felt more comfortable. The conversation was so easy between us, it just felt natural to talk to Tony. I felt no judgment and no need to pretend to be someone that I was not. He made it very clear that he wanted to know the real me. He wanted me to feel comfortable and safe to open up and enjoy our date. So I decided to do just that, I decided to let down my guards and enjoy the moment and my date. We talked about our families, beliefs, and life goals. I found out that although Tony was not a religious guy, he believed in God. He had a big family with four sisters and two brothers. His mother struggled with substance abuse when Tony was child, so his childhood was pretty rough. He didn't have much, so he being the oldest took on odd jobs as a teenager just to help pay the bills. He didn't speak much about his father, I assumed he just wasn't in the picture. He loved his siblings, and seemed to play a huge part in their lives. Three of his sisters work for him each working in one of his businesses. And each brother managed a Soap Box franchise. His mother was well cared for by her children thanks to the sacrifices that Tony made. I was completely blown away by his story. I had never heard anything like it in my entire life. My work has caused me to come across some strange and sometimes extremely sad stories but this was unlike anything I have ever heard. Tony told me that his upbringing has not made him bitter or angry, just determined and focused. He was relentless about never being poor again. I told him about my family and how sometimes they can be a little overbearing. I didn't have any stories of being left with no food or heat. So I felt a little ungrateful complaining about a family that just want to make sure I'm safe.
