Taking a Bite from the Big Apple (Complete)

25

“Ah, yes. I had kind of forgotten about the holiday…” Clifford started.

“Oh, Toni knows a secluded Italian place. Right, baby?”

Toni nodded shyly, unsure how to act in front of her girlfriend’s parents. Cheryl noticed and took her hand, giving a reassuring squeeze.

“Yea,” the brunette spoke up, “Mario’s. Just a couple of blocks from here. They do amazing linguine.”

“I look forward to trying it,” Clifford replied cordially.

They all stood uncomfortably for a moment, no one sure what to say.

“Oh this is ridiculous,” Penelope said as she took in the awkward tension of the room, before pulling an extremely surprised Toni into a hug, “Anyone who can make my daughter as happy as she’s seemed since moving out here, I feel I am indebted to. So thank you.”

“I…uh…I’m...ah…I love her?” Toni tried.

“Good,” Penelope replied, pulling back as both Cheryl and Clifford stifled a giggle, “Now let’s get to this restaurant.”

Toni reclaimed her girlfriend’s hand, surprised that she actually felt more relaxed after Penelope’s display and walked over to the door, holding it open as the older couple walked out and over to the elevator.

“Hey, how’d you guys get past the security check?” Cheryl asked as the lift when down, “You secret agents at the weekends or something?”

“Don’t be ridiculous,” Penelope laughed, “A young man was leaving as we were coming in, so there was no need to call up. Quite delightful too, told me my sweater brought out my eyes and said he was reminded of a friend he calls ‘Cherry’.

“That was probably Fangs” Toni replied with a grin, “He’s our neighbour. brunette? Really tall? Wearing something leather and skin-tight?”

“That’s the one,” Clifford nodded as they stepped off the elevator and out of the building, Toni turning them left.

“He’s one my best friends,” Toni continued, liking that the conversation seemed to be flowing easier now, “I’ve known him like two years.”

“His boyfriend is super nice too,” Cheryl interjected, “I, uh, wasn’t joking about our entire floor being gay.”

Clifford smiled and looked around him.

“It’s nice to be back around the old alma mater. I always did love this city,” he remarked fondly, “So, Toni, how long have you lived here? I presume in what was her quest to stay in the closest, Cheryl didn’t tell us much about you.”

The younger couple noticed the teasing tone and smiled at each other.

“I grew up here. In that apartment actually. It was my grandmother’s and she left it to me when she died.”

Penelope was about to ask about parents, but saw Cheryl give her a quick glance and decided not to bring it up. Any conversational lull was stopped as Toni opened a little gate and walked them through a disguised courtyard to a small restaurant, a few patrons already sitting and eating inside. They all walked in and a small, olive-skinned woman walked up to them, a beaming smile on her face.

“Toni! It’sa good to see you again.”

“Drop the accent, Ronnie” Toni smirked.

“Fine,” Veronica answered, talking in her own, quite heavy New York accent, “Still nice to see you, though. Table for four?”