Troublemaker
This is a long overdue story. I owe an anon reader this story. I was requested to do prompt #16. Sadly, I didn’t get to know which #16 it was as I have many prompt lists out there. So, this is a Brettonio story with the following prompts:
- “I ship us.” - “Why are you always so stubborn?” “I’m not.” - “What do you have?” “Pizza rolls & Cup O’Noodles... that’s about it. So... Popcorn?” - “Aaah... I can’t stop blushing... No... you’re not helping at all.” Please note that for the purpose of this story, Antonio and Sylvie made up and have since moved on since the incident with Laura. They’re still together. So without further ado... Troublemaker!
“Sylvie!” Antonio called out as he came into the apartment. “Babe?” He saw her coat was hung on the hook and her boots were by the door. He hung up his own coat and took off his shoes before going to the kitchen.
Sylvie wasn’t there. He went to check the master bedroom and saw she wasn’t there either. That was when he heard sounds coming Eva’s room. He went over and could see light coming from under the door. He leaned against the door to see if Eva was alone.
“Eva... you know that your dad’s going to eventually figure it all out.”
“I know Sylvie, but... I don’t know how to tell him.”
“It’s not going to be easy... considering it’s really big.”
Antonio had no clue what was being discussed but the feeling in the pit of his stomach told him he probably wasn’t going to like it. He took a breath and knocked on the door. “Sylvie?”
“Coming.”
There was some more whispering that Antonio couldn’t make it. He backed away from the door so that neither Eva nor Sylvie would know he wasn’t there.
“Hey.” Sylvie opened the door and walked into the hallway. “When did you get home?”
“Just now.” Antonio wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. “How was your day off?”
“Zumba... went grocery shopping... met with Gaby for lunch... picked Eva up from school... and I was just helping her with her bio homework.”
“Fun times. Do I want to know what they’re teaching my daughter?”
“Didn’t you take biology?” Sylvie chuckled.
“Uh... I can’t remember.” Antonio smirked.
“Yeah... I bet.” Sylvie poked him in the ribs. “So... I was thinking about your offer from the other night.”
“Which one?” Antonio batted his eyes at her, feigning innocence.
Sylvie smacked him in the chest. “You know which one.”
Antonio sighed. “Yeah... I remember asking you to move in with us.”
“I told you I needed time to think it over... and I did.”
“What’s your final decision?” Antonio whispered.
“I’ll gladly move in.” Sylvie whispered back. “I just had to talk to Eva and Diego first... it’s their home too.”
“So, they gave their blessing?”
That was when Eva emerged from her bedroom. “Hey, Dad.”
“Hey, kiddo.” Antonio said. “How was school?”
“It was okay. I was happy to finally see Neil get kicked out of Chemistry today.”
“What did he do this time?” Antonio asked.
“Tried to use acid to burn through his textbook.”
Antonio sighed. He knew that this Neil kid had been a pain in almost every class that he shared with Eva. “How long?”
“No clue. Headmaster had him in the office the rest of the day.” Eva shrugged. “I got an A on my History paper... and I’m meeting with the counsellor about my college choices tomorrow.”
“Sounds like a busy day.” Antonio was extremely proud of his daughter. Eva had been achieving new heights since she’d moved in with him. Sylvie had been a big help in having her adjust. “So, anything else new?” He looked between Sylvie and Eva.
“Turns out 51 has a new thing going around for ‘ships’.” Sylvie said. “Weird names for them... made no sense to me.”
“They’re talking about boats?” Antonio knew that Chief, Kelly and Matt fished often, but he was sure that none of them owned anything larger enough to be considered a ship.
“Sylvie... Dad... a ship isn’t a boat... like the traditional meaning of the word.” Eva spoke up.
“Then what is it?” Antonio was genuinely perplexed.
Eva sighed. “And people think Millennials are bad... okay, a ‘ship’ is a nickname for a couple... like ‘Brangelina’ or ‘Kimye’...”
“So... a ‘ship’...” Antonio used his fingers to simulate quotation marks. “Is what people call couples as a cute thing?”
Eva rolled her eyes. “It’s not a cute thing... it’s just a way that people talk... those tabloids started it... normal people kept it going.”
“So... what ships were they discussing at 51?” Antonio turned to look at Sylvie.
“Well, Dawsey...”
“That’s probably Aunt Gaby & Uncle Matt.”
Sylvie nodded. “That’s what Otis said.”
“Any others?”
“Well, there was Plouch, but that’s obviously Mouch and Trudy...” Sylvie said. “Then there’s the bromance going on with Otis and Cruz... they call themselves Crotis...”
“Typical bromance name.” Eva snickered.
“There was another one, but I didn’t catch it all... probably because they froze when I came into the kitchen.” Sylvie sighed.
“They probably have a ship name for you and Dad.” Eva looked to her dad. “I see it.”
“You think we’re like a celebrity couple?” Antonio arched an eyebrow. “Really?”
“Well, you’re way better than ‘Kimye’.” Eva commented. “And you’re definitely way cooler than Brangelina.”
Sylvie’s head was spinning. “Okay, Eva... what would you call your dad and I as a ‘ship’?”
Eva thought about it for a couple minutes. “That’s not so easy... your first names don’t mesh really well... and well, last names... people could confuse it as a team name for Aunt Gaby & Sylvie.”
“Well, how about this... you think about that while we make supper?” Antonio proposed.
Eva nodded and headed to the kitchen.
Sylvie kissed Antonio on the cheek. “No matter what name she comes up with, I ship us.”
Antonio groaned as the two of them made their way to the kitchen. He was worried about whatever it was that Sylvie and Eva had been discussing in Eva’s room and now this. He strongly suspected he may need help falling asleep tonight. “So, what’s for dinner?”
“What do you have?” Sylvie asked.
Antonio and Eva were going through cupboards and the fridge. “Uh... Pizza rolls... and Cup O’Noodles... that’s about it.”
Eva held up a box of microwave popcorn. “Popcorn?”
Sylvie groaned. “No, no and no... we definitely are not have any of those for dinner.” She looked at her watch. It was too late to hit any decent market to get food. “Okay, coats, shoes... we’ll go to my place... I left all my groceries there...”
“Why didn’t you bring them here?” Antonio asked.
“Because I was thinking you’d actually have groceries here... and those groceries were partly for meal planning for when I’m on shift... they were going to be a surprise.”
“Oh... oops.” Antonio said sheepishly. “Okay... let’s hit the road.”
Once at Sylvie’s apartment, Sylvie quickly whipped up some grilled chicken with a salad. While they ate, she heated a frozen cobbler for dessert. After dinner, Antonio and Sylvie cleaned the dishes and Eva went to find something on Netflix.
“You okay?” Antonio asked.
Sylvie nodded. “Yeah. Just long shift...”
“Let’s make some popcorn and go watch a movie. It’ll be a good way for all of us to unwind.”
“Eva definitely needs to unwind.” Sylvie sighed. “She’s worried about getting into a good school... exams... prom.”
Antonio cringed at the last word. “She’ll get into a good school.” Antonio knew his daughter was a straight ‘A’ student and had sent in applications for every school possible as well as been applying to a multitude of grants and scholarships. Eva didn’t know, but Antonio had been putting money aside every month since she was born to help her go to a good school. He supported her fully in whatever she wanted to pursue. Prom, that was another subject. Prom meant his little girl was growing up and he’d have to see her move onto new and bigger adventures. “I’m a little more worried about this Prom thing though.”
“Antonio, I don’t think Eva is one of those girls.”
“I’m not worried about her... I’m worried about the boys.”
“Antonio... any boy that knows Eva knows that her dad will sic the entire CPD on them if they so much as have an inappropriate thought about her.”
Antonio had to laugh. It was true. Almost all of Eva’s class had met Antonio through the years when he came to do ‘Parent Day’ events at the school. “Okay, okay. I’ll ease up on the Prom thing... I just want her happy. That’s all I’ve wanted for Eva and Diego.”
“You’re a great dad, Antonio.” Sylvie nodded over to where Eva was browsing Netflix. “You’ve got two great kids who love you. They’re happy, but they’re always looking at you and wanting you to be happy too.”
Antonio put the popcorn in the microwave, hit start and then took Sylvie’s hand. “I am happy. This... us, the kids... what we have... that makes me happy.” He sighed. “You know... you never answered what the kids thought about us moving in together.”
“Oh.” Sylvie snickered as she pulled the popcorn from the microwave. “They said it was cool... they just don’t want Laura to find out.”
“I don’t blame them on that.” Antonio held the bowl while Sylvie poured the popcorn. “But... she’s moved on, I can too... and I have... and I will not let her come between us again.”
They went to join Eva and watching ‘Stranger Things’.
Halfway through the episode, Antonio’s phone rang. He grabbed it from his pocket and scowled. He left the living room and headed to the bedroom to take the call.
Eva paused the TV and looked to Sylvie. “Work?”
Sylvie shook her head. “Not likely... I think it’s something more close to home.”
Eva sighed and leaned against the bean bag chair that Sylvie had bought her for movie nights. “Mom?”
Sylvie nodded slowly. “I’m pretty sure that’s who it was. Your dad doesn’t doesn’t usually get that grumpy, that fast for work.”
Eva groaned. “I think movie night may be over.”
Sylvie motioned for Eva to come sit next to her. “I know that this whole thing is tough.”
Eva leaned against Sylvie. “There are days I wish you were my mom, Sylvie. You listen to us... you’re fair to us... you just care.”
Sylvie had no clue what to do in this occasion. She cared about both of Antonio’s kids and it hurt her to see them be stuck in this mess. Antonio had explained a bunch of the things that had been going on. She knew that Laura was fighting to not allow Diego to choose which parent he wants to live with. He’d wanted to move in with Antonio but he was still too young according to Laura, to make that decision. The courts however had to review the report completed by a child psychologist and all other evidence before making any determination.
Antonio came back into the living room, flustered and running his hands through his hair. “Okay, I’m going to go pick up Diego... be back in a bit.”
Sylvie looked to him. “At Laura’s?”
He shook his head, fists clenched. “No... she left him on my doorstep. A neighbour just called.”
Sylvie knew who he was talking about. The neighbour across the hall always kept an eye out on his place and knew the Dawson kids well. “Ah... well, we can go with you.”
“Uh, no... I think we’ll stay here tonight... maybe get a head start on your packing?”
Sylvie knew that wasn’t the real reason, but whatever it was, he didn’t want to say it in front of Eva. “Sure.” She turned to Eva. “How about we pick a movie while we wait?”
Eva started browsing Netflix again while Antonio left to pick Diego up.
6 weeks after the most recent drama with Laura, Antonio and Sylvie walked into the courtroom. They were here for the judge to rule on if Diego was old enough to decide which parent he wanted to live with and if he was old enough, the judge would listen to Diego’s choice. Since the recent episode, Diego had spent five and half weeks with them at Antonio’s. Laura never called Antonio to check on him until the day she showed up on their doorstep demanding Diego go home with her. Antonio had had enough by then. He’d called in some favours from when he worked for the State Attorney’s office. He was tired of seeing his children being used as pawns for his ex-wife in their divorce proceedings.
Another issue that had arisen since that night was that Sylvie had officially moved in with Antonio and was fully into being the kids’ step-mom. That had further enraged Laura, but it didn’t get to Sylvie. She stood her ground and stood by her new little family.
Court was called to order. The judge read the file and then spoke to Antonio and Laura’s respective lawyers. He then looked to the seats where Antonio, Sylvie and the kids were sitting. “Diego?”
“Yes, sir?” Diego stood.
“Come up here, son.”
Diego walked up closer to the bench.
“Now, you are 13 correct?”
Diego nodded. “Yes, your Honour.”
“And you’ve spoken to both your parents about how you felt? That you wanted to choose who you wanted to spend the majority of your time with?”
Diego nodded again. “Yes, sir. I have.”
“How did those conversations go?”
Diego took a breath. He wasn’t under oath, but he knew that lying to the judge wouldn’t be good. “When I talked to my dad and his girlfriend... they said as long as I was happy, they supported my choice.”
“And your mother?”
“It wasn’t so much a talk as her yelling about how my dad was corrupting me and making me go against her.”
Laura’s attorney had to put his hand on her arm to stop her from causing a commotion.
“Continue, Diego.” The judge nodded.
“She didn’t want me to live with Dad because then it meant less money for her and that I was doing it to hurt her because Dad was never there for me like she was.”
“I see.” The judge, as unbiased as he could be, scowled at Laura. “Well... what would you like?”
“I’d like to live with my dad. He supports me in my goals... and he always comes to tournaments and school activities if he isn’t working... and when he can’t come, Sylvie and my grandparents are there with my sister. There’s no yelling and fighting like there used to be. I feel like it’s a family.”
“I see. Okay, Diego, you can go sit with them.”
Diego came back and sat next to Eva who hugged him tightly.
“Detective Dawson.”
Antonio stood and went to stand where Diego had been. “Yes, your Honour?”
“I understand your work, I’ve had you testify in my court before... do you feel Diego would be better at home with you and your girlfriend, with his sister?”
“I do... not because of the divorce, or because I wish to spite his mother. I want my children happy. I only want what’s best for them. In the past six weeks, we’ve really grown as a family. They’ve welcomed Sylvie with open arms. There’s always going to be that part of my work where I may not be home because of a case, but we’ve always made it work.”
“You’ve worked out a plan with your attorney, to allow your children to spend time with their mother as well?”
“Yes, sir... they also contributed to it. Seeing as Eva is almost 18 and Diego is a teenager, I felt it was in their best interest that they be part of the discussion.”
“I’ve read your proposal, and I feel it is very fair.” The judge smiled. “Thank you, Detective.”
Antonio took his seat again and squeezed Sylvie’s hand. He was cringing to think what Laura would have to say. To his surprise, she barely said anything, only responding ‘yes’ or ‘no’ to the judge’s questions.
“We’ll take a 20 minute recess. I’ll go over it all and provide my ruling then.” With that he banged his gavel.
Laura stormed out the courtroom. Sylvie looked to Antonio. She could see the worry in his eyes. She gently stroked his cheek. “It’s going to be okay.” She whispered.
Antonio sighed. Deep down, he knew she was right, but he would have that knot in the pit of his stomach until the judge passed his ruling. “I know... I just... I want this to be over with.”
Sylvie kissed his cheek. “20 more minutes... then whatever happens happens and we’ll all learn to live with whatever ruling he comes back with.”
They were the longest 20 minutes in their life. The judge returned just as Laura took her seat again.
“Now, I’ve reviewed all the information provided by both attorneys, I’ve read Eva’s testimony and heard from Diego as well as both parents.” He looked over his glasses. “The only person I haven’t heard from is Ms. Brett.”
Sylvie’s eyes widened. She slowly stood. “Me, your Honour?”
“Please.” The judge motioned to her.
Sylvie moved to the front of the room. They hadn’t discussed this. She had no clue what to say. She took a deep breath and waited.
“Now, Ms. Brett, you’re a paramedic with the CFD?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Your partner is Detective Dawson’s sister?”
Sylvie answered. “Yes.”
“How has his family reacted to the two of you being together?”
Sylvie was confused as to what this had to do with Diego living with Antonio, but she answered none the less. “At first, they were a little shocked... seeing that there’s quite an age gap between us... that he’d been married and had children and I never have been married. But, time went on and people got used to it.”
“How do the children feel about it?”
“They’ve never said they’re against it, sir.” Sylvie sighed. “They just asked that we not break up again... that they didn’t want to see their father hurt again.”
“What caused this ‘break up’?”
Sylvie quickly looked back to Antonio before answering. “Uh, a conflict with his ex, Laura.”
The judge looked to all parties before saying. “Go on.”
“Laura came to the firehouse... I had picked Diego up from his grandmother’s house because Antonio had been called on a case. We’d done it many times before and never had a problem. That day, Diego had told Laura where he was. She was furious that Antonio hadn’t picked him up, so she ambushed me at work. She commented that I was blonde. She also ranted that she didn’t want a ‘strange’ woman driving her son around. She then went on to get upset because I’d learned to play chess so I could bond more with Diego.”
Laura stood up. “This is pointless.”
“Sit down, or be charged with contempt.” The judge ordered. He looked to Sylvie. “Please, continue.”
“Bonding with Eva was easier, she’s a teen girl and I remember what being a teenager is like.”
Laura muttered under her breath. “That’s because you’re barely an adult.”
This earned her a glare from the judge and a loud ‘HUSH’ from her attorney.
“I wanted to have Diego feel like I cared about him and that I would be there too, if he needed me.” Sylvie took a calming breath. “I, by no means, want to replace their mother, but I do want to be there for them... be an shoulder to cry on, someone that can just sit and listen while they vent. I’m not their mother and have no claim to them but I want them to be happy.”
“So I am taking that Laura isn’t happy with your current living arrangements?”
“I would say that, yes.” Sylvie smiled. “Antonio and I live together... have been for the last month.”
“Does your work interfere with your home life?”
“No more than it would for any other first responder.”
“Thank you, Ms. Brett.”
Sylvie quickly returned to her seat.
The judge cleared his throat. “Now, in most situations, the law prefers that the children stay with the mother. Eva, being almost 18, was able to decide that she wanted to live with her father. Detective Dawson’s proposal for joint custody of Diego is very generous, and I strongly support it. Now, why does this need to be settled in court, instead of between two attorney’s in a cushy office?”
Laura’s attorney stood. “My client doesn’t feel it’s generous or fair. She feels that with her ex-husband’s career and choice of new partner that Diego will not thrive.”
“Judging by what I’ve seen as evidence provided by Diego... his report cards, extra curricular activities as well as a report done by a child psychologist. There isn’t anything in there to suggest that living with Detective Dawson and Ms. Brett, along with his sister, that Diego would not thrive.” The judge adjusted his glasses. “Diego himself wants to live with his father.”
“He’s just a boy, he doesn’t know what he wants.” Laura blurted out.
“One more time...” the judge cautioned her. “Diego, please, for the record... do you want to live with your mother... or your father, Ms. Brett and your sister?”
“My dad, Sylvie and Eva.” Diego answered clearly. “I want to stay with them.”
“Then, it is my ruling that Diego will live with his father and that his mother will follow the terms in the agreement drawn up by Detective Dawson’s attorney.”
Laura just gasped. She couldn’t believe it.
He banged the gavel one last time. “Court is adjourned.”
Diego hugged his father tightly. “So, I’m staying with you?”
“That’s what the judge said.” Antonio hugged both his children. “Let’s get out of here.”
Laura stopped them. “When are you going to come get his things?”
“Tomorrow.” Antonio wasn’t going to draw this out.
“When do I get him again?”
“Ask your attorney, Laura. It’s all in the paperwork.” He turned to leave.
Laura grabbed his arm, stopping him. “You know she’ll never be good enough.”
Antonio pulled his arm back and motioned to Sylvie to take the kids and go to the truck. “Laura, we’re divorced. Done. What I choose to do with my life and who I want to have in my life is no longer your concern. And just because you have joint custody, it doesn’t mean you get to dictate my life anymore. I don’t care who you date or fuck... as long as they don’t hurt my kids. You walked out on me... just remember that. My happiness no longer depends on you, but on myself. So, I will be there with Diego tomorrow at 10am to pack his things. In two weeks, he and Eva have agreed to spend the weekend with you, starting Friday after school. If that doesn’t work for you, then you’ll have to wait until it works for them. I won’t force my children to do anything they don’t want to.” He turned on his heel and left, leaving Laura standing there alone.
Prom was just around the corner and Antonio was a wreck. He knew that someone had asked Eva to go to prom with her. He just didn’t know who and it was driving him batty. He looked at Sylvie who was helping Eva pulled dresses from the rack to try on. Part of him wanted to have Atwater or Halstead to do a search on who this guy could be, but he knew he had to trust Eva.
“We’re going to go try these on.” Eva said as they walked passed him.
Antonio looked to Sylvie. She just smiled at him. It was then that Antonio wished Diego wasn’t at a friend’s for a sleepover.
While Eva tried on dressed, Sylvie went and sat next to Antonio. “Everything okay?”
He nodded. “I guess... I just... Eva’s almost done high school.”
“Antonio... you knew that that was going to happen, right?”
“Yeah... I just... I guess... I missed a lot of her growing up... being under cover a lot and all that.”
Sylvie hugged him. “It’s going to be okay... we’re just buying a prom dress, not a wedding dress.”
Those last two words made Antonio’s eyes bulge. “Don’t. Even. Go. There.”
“Just breathe, babe.” She squeezed his hand.
“Do you know who’s taking her to prom?”
“She didn’t say... but, babe, it’s going to be okay. Whoever it is.”
“Hey, do you if we’ve had any mail come in the last couple days?”
“Mail?” Sylvie shook her head. “No. Why?”
“Just, hasn’t been any when I go check it afterwork.”
“Maybe the kids get to it and bring it in if there is any. They generally get home before us anyhow.”
Antonio had thought that too, but he had been expecting some papers to come in. Maybe he’d just call to see if they’d been sent.
Eva appeared before them in one of the many gowns she was going to try on that afternoon. “What do you think?”
“I love the colour, Eva.” Sylvie smiled. “Really pretty for sure. How does it feel?”
“A bit tight.” Eva adjusted the top of the dress. “And I’m not sure I like the fact that the dress has no straps.”
“I’m inclined to agree, Eva.” Antonio motioned for her to spin around. “The neckline is a little low... and it doesn’t look like you’d be able to dance or move much without risking it falling down.”
“I’ll put it in the no pile and keep trying them on.”
3 hours later, they walked out of the store with Eva’s gown and shoes. Sylvie would take her for jewelry a little later on. The jewelry was going to be her gift from Sylvie and Gaby.
Once home, Eva rushed to put her things away while Antonio made supper. Sylvie put the laundry to wash and went to see Eva.
“Dad’s onto me?” Eva asked.
Sylvie nodded. “He knows the mail hasn’t been getting ‘delivered’.”
“I don’t know how to tell him.” Eva sank into the bed. “I don’t even know what I’m going to do.”
“You’re going to follow your heart.” Sylvie said. “I would suggest over dinner.”
Eva nodded as she pulled out a pile of envelopes from under her mattress. “Thanks, Sylvie.”
“You’re welcome, Eva.” Sylvie smiled before heading out to help Antonio finish dinner.
While they ate, Eva thought about what she would say, or how she should bring it up. Finally, she went with the band-aid method. She dropped her cutlery and blurted. “Dad, I have something to tell you.”
Antonio froze mid-bite. “Uh, okay?” He looked to Sylvie then back to Eva as he put down his fork.
“I’m the one who’s been hiding all the mail.” Eva’s cheeks flushed red.
“Why?”
“I... I didn’t want you to see... these.” She pulled a pile of letters from her hoodie pocket. She handed them to Antonio.
He took them and looked at all the return addresses. “These... are all from universities and colleges... and they’re not exactly thin to be rejection letters.”
“No, Dad... they’re all acceptance letters.”
Antonio knew that Eva had been applying to various programs, but he didn’t realize she’d applied to this many. “How many schools did you apply to?”
“As many as I could.” Eva replied. “Ms. Jones, the guidance counsellor... she said the more options the better.”
“Did she say to apply to every university in the whole country?”
“No.” Eva laughed. “I just applied to the ones that had programs that really interested me.”
“Which are?”
“Law or medicine.” Eva blushed. “I thought about teaching, but after shadowing a few teachers at school, realized that’s not what I wanted. You need to be a special kind of person to be a teacher... I don’t think I have the patience.”
“So you want to be a lawyer?” Antonio arched an eyebrow.
“Maybe... or a doctor. Maybe a nurse?” Eva sighed. “I don’t know yet. I was thinking doing a year of general studies to figure out what my real calling is.”
Antonio thumbed through the envelopes. While there was great pride in the schools who wanted to have Eva study there, part of him ached knowing that some of them were clear across the country. “Eva, some of these are Ivy League schools.”
“I know.” Eva said. “I... I didn’t think I’d be good enough for them... I didn’t think I’d get in.”
“Eva, you underestimate yourself.” Antonio and Sylvie said together.
Eva laughed. “You two definitely are a ship.”
Antonio, ignoring the quip, asked. “Which school do you want to go to?” He handed her all the letters.
“I’m really torn between Northwestern and the University of Chicago.”
“Not Harvard... or Stanford?”
“I... I don’t know, Dad... it would be cool to have a degree from them, but... I want to stay closer to home. Both schools here are really good... some of the best of the world.”
“You don’t want to just stay here because you feel like you have to, do you?”
“At first, a little... but then I see what you, Sylvie, Tia Gaby and everyone else does to make Chicago a better place... I want to do that to.” She smiled. “I want to stay home and keep making Chicago a better place.”
“I support you no matter what.” Antonio smiled. “Doctor, lawyer, nurse... or anything in between. I just want you to be happy with whatever you choose to do.”
Prom night was finally here. Antonio still hadn’t figured out who Eva’s date was but he hadn’t pestered her. He was proud of his little girl. She’d chosen to go to the University of Chicago. She’d start in general studies before making the final decision of which program. He was pacing in the living room while Sylvie helped Eva finish getting ready. Diego was sitting on the couch reading a book.
“Dad?”
“Yeah, Diego?”
“Why are you so nervous? It’s not your prom.”
Antonio had to laugh. “I know, but one day Diego, when you have kids, you’ll understand. No matter how old your kids get, you’ll always be worried about them.”
“You still worry about both of us?”
“Always, buddy. Always.” Antonio stopped pacing and sat across from Diego. “Even Abuela worries about Tia Gaby and I on a regular basis.”
“I know that... she said she says three rosaries a day... one for you, one for Tia Gaby and the other for the rest of us.”
Antonio knew that this was true. “Yep, so I’m way older than either you or your sister and my own mom worries about me all the time. She always told me... especially after Eva was born, ‘Once a parent, always a parent’. I never knew what that all meant... until I watch you guys grow up.”
“Dad, you know that we don’t want to make you worry, right?”
Antonio nodded. “Yeah, I know you don’t... but I’ll still worry... even Sylvie worries about you guys.”
Just then Sylvie appeared in front of them. She cleared her throat. “She’s ready.”
Antonio slowly stood up and watched as his baby girl came out of her bedroom. She looked beautiful. “Eva, you look amazing.” He went and hugged her.
Eva did a little spin. The sparkles and crystals on her dress caught the light. “You think so?”
Antonio kissed her forehead. “I know so.”
“Wow, sis.” Diego whistled. “You look great!”
“I like how Sylvie did my hair.”
Sylvie grinned. “It works better for you. You have natural curl.”
Eva hugged Sylvie. “Thank you.”
There was a knock at the door.
“I’ll get it!” Diego bolted from the couch to get the door. “Uh, hi?”
“I’m a little early.” A young man’s voice said from the entry way.
“Come in... Eva’s ready.” Diego came back to the living room.
“Hi, Neil.” Eva’s cheeks flushed a deep crimson. “You look really handsome.”
Neil stood there in his tux, clutching a small plastic container that held Eva’s wrist corsage. His jaw dropped. “Uh, wow.”
Antonio was still processing his daughter’s date’s name. “Neil...” He was whispering to himself.
“You look beautiful, Eva. Just, wow.” He awkwardly opened the container and pulled out the wristlet out. “I got this for you.”
Eva extended her wrist, letting him slip it on. “It’s perfect. Thank you, Neil.” She gave him a small peck on the cheek.
Sylvie, not phased by what was going on, took some pictures with her phone. “You two look really dashing.”
“Thanks, Sylvie.” Eva grinned. “Uh, Dad... you okay?” She took Neil’s hand and made formal introductions. “Dad, this is Neil... from Chemistry.”
The lightbulb in Antonio’s head lit up. “Ah, yes. Hi, Neil... it’s nice to meet you.”
Neil cleared his throat. Sylvie saw that there was a small amount of fear in Neil’s eyes. It was obvious that Neil knew what Antonio did for a living. “It’s nice to meet you too, sir... though, we’ve met before... at the career day.”
“I knew you looked familiar... you were interested in the CPD.”
“Still am sir.” Neil was feeling a little more at ease. “I actually... just got my acceptance letter to join the next Academy class.”
“Congratulations!” Eva exclaimed.
Antonio could see it then. “So... this is what you’ve been so secretive about... that you and Neil are... dating?”
“Dad!” Eva gasped.
“He didn’t know?” Neil whispered.
“Not until now.”
Eva’s cheeks were burning even more. “Ahh! I can’t stop blushing.”
“Eva... I don’t think...” Neil tried to calm her.
“No, you’re not helping... at all.”
“Okay, everyone.” Sylvie stepped in. “Let’s not get ruffled feathers now. Everyone’s happy, yeah?”
Antonio took a glance between Eva and Neil. “Yeah.” He extended his hand to Neil. “Have fun tonight... and be safe?”
“Yes, sir.” Neil nodded. “We’re going straight to the prom and then I know Eva promised she’d be home early enough... I’ll make sure she gets home on time.”
“Bring her home when you’re both tired.” Antonio took Sylvie’s hand. “Just be safe, and don’t make me a grandfather.”
“DAD!”
Sylvie slapped Antonio’s chest. “Antonio!”
“Hey... it’s better than what I was originally thinking.” Antonio whispered.
“More pictures.” Sylvie said. “Then they can go dance the night away, and we can eat dinner.”
A/N: There we go... a very long and very over due story. Hope you all enjoyed it!
