• "Mystique! You ready?"
    "Coming!"
    Mystique ran down the stairs to a rather shocked Antonio.
    "Surprised?" Mystique asked, wrapping her arms around him.
    "I've been coming to your house for dates for seven months, and I still can't get over how big it is!"
    "It's not that big." Mystique blushed.
    Antonio brushed back her hair. "It's also not as beautiful with you standing here."
    Tonight was their seven month anniversary since they started dating, and Mystique had planned to meet Antonio's dad. The subject was brought up just a week ago, and Antonio avoided it for a while. Though she dropped it, Antonio agreed to the plan later that week.
    Antonio drove Mystique to his house, where his father was waiting at the door.
    "Well, hello there!" Mr. Donacelli greeted them. "So you're the beautiful Mystique. Antonio here never stops talking about you."
    "Good things I hope," Mystique commented, still hugging Antonio.
    "Well, why don't we get some dinner? Maria made a wonderful spread for us!" Mr. Donacelli led them to the dining room.
    "Maria? Is she your mother?" Mystique asked.
    "No, my mom died when I was eight," Antonio explained. "Maria is our maid. She's like a mom; she thinks of us as her second family."
    The three sat down at a large dinner table, and a small, Spanish woman came in with a cart full of food.
    "Es hora para comer!" Maria exclaimed. Mystique looked at Antonio.
    "It means 'time to eat'," he explained.
    "Thanks, my Spanish isn't that good," Mystique laughed.
    The four spent the next few hours eating and talking. After the dinner, Mr. Donacelli stood up.
    "Well, I believe your parents might be waiting for you." he said.
    "My mom's picking me up," Mystique said quietly. "My dad's in Madrid for a business thing."
    She turned to Maria. "That was a great dinner. Muy bien."
    "Gracias," Maria replied.
    "Well...um...I guess I'll see you tomorrow," Antonio said while walking Mystique to the car. "I'll pick you up? 8 o'clock?"
    "I would like that," Mystique answered, repeating the same words Antonio said the first day they met.
    Mystique got into her mom's car, and Antonio watched it as it disappeared around the bend. His father walked up behind him.
    "That girl is pretty special," he stated.
    "Yeah," Antonio sighed.
    "Rich, too," his father added.
    "You know I don't care about that," Antonio said as he left.
    "But it makes her a good target," his father whispered when he was out of sight.