Chapter 52

…Emile pov…

The wedding party continued through the evening, I leaned over to my mother and whispered, "It's getting late, Mom. I have a date tonight, remember?"

"Oh, of course!" she exclaimed, quickly gathering her things and standing up from her seat. "Let's go say goodbye to Aunt Sally."

We made our way over to where my mother's friend, Aunt Sally, was sitting and said our goodbyes. As we were about to leave, Aunt Sally introduced us to her daughter, the bride, and her husband, the groom. I smiled and said hello, feeling a little nervous in their presence.

"And this is my daughter, Emile," my mother chimed in. "She's a talented graphic editor, you know." The bride and groom both smiled.

Hello, I waved, I said to them. "You look stunning," I said as I moved forward to congratulate them."Thank you very much." They chorused.

"I am Emile." I beamed a smile at them.

"I'm Juliet." the bride said.

"Nice to meet you Emile, I'm Anthony," the groom said immediately after. "Nice to meet you Anthony and Juliet,"I replied

"You have a beautiful daughter," Juliet said to my mom. "You are pretty much beautiful yourself with a handsome man." My mom replied.

We chatted for a few minutes longer, discussing the beautiful ceremony and how happy the bride and groom looked. As we were about to leave, my mother suggested we head to the dance floor and join in the festivities. I half heartedly agree, not being much of a dancer, but my mother was eager to show off her moves.

We made our way to the dance floor and my mother was soon twirling and laughing, surrounded by friends and family. I found myself laughing along with her, enjoying the joy and energy of the room. As the night went on, I found myself having the time of my life, dancing and chatting with my mother and the other guests.

It was the perfect end to a wonderful day, and I was grateful for my mother's encouragement to step out of my comfort zone and join in the celebration.

The memories of this night would stay with me for a long time to come, and I was grateful for the opportunity to create them with my mother by my side.

************

Back home I was getting dressed for my dinner date with Dickinson. She claims it's dinner date even when I argued it's just a dinner. Someone knocked on the door, that's was probably my mom. She stepped in before I could say come in. "Hey sweetie, I wanted to come and help you get ready for your dinner," she said with a smile.

"Thanks, Mom, but it's just a simple dinner," I tried to explain. "I'm sure I can manage with anything I have in my closet."

But my mother ignored me and started rummaging through my closet, pulling out dress after dress and holding them up for inspection. "This one is too casual, and this one is too formal," she said, tossing them aside. "But what about this one?" She held up a beautiful blue dress that I had forgotten about.

I stood in front of my mother as she rummaged through my closet, searching for the perfect dress for tonight's dinner.

"How about this one?" she asked, holding up a long, black dress. I took a look and shook my head. "Mom, that's too serious. It's just a simple dinner, remember?"

My mother sighed and looked back into the closet. "I know, I know. I just want you to look your best, that's all."

I smiled at my mother's effort to make the evening special. "I know, Mom. But I don't want to look like I'm going to a wedding or something. I just want to be comfortable and enjoy the dinner."

My mother hesitated for a moment, then picked out a lighter, more casual dress. "Okay, how about this one?"

I took the dress from her and held it up to myself. "This is perfect, Mom. Thank you."

But my mother wasn't done yet. "Now, what about shoes?" she asked, eyeing my flat, comfortable sneakers.

I groaned. "Mom, I really don't want to wear heels. Can't I just wear these?"

"Emile, you need to dress the part. Heels will complete the look," my mother insisted.

I sighed and reluctantly agreed. But as my mother turned to go back to her room, I quickly slipped a pair of flat slippers into my purse.

I didn't want to be uncomfortable all night, especially if I was going to be on my feet for a while.As I settled into the back seat of the cab, I couldn't help but wonder why Dickinson had chosen a Chinese restaurant for tonight's dinner.

I had never been much of a fan of Chinese food, but for some reason, I was drawn to the Golden Wok.

"Golden Wok restaurant, please," I told the cab driver, and he nodded, pulling out into traffic.

As we drove, I thought about Dickinson's choice of restaurant. Was it because he was feeling adventurous and wanted to try something new? Or was it because he was craving something comforting and familiar? I couldn't help but feel a sense of curiosity and excitement about what the evening held in store.

When I arrived at the restaurant, I was greeted by the warm glow of lanterns and the delicious aroma of spices and sauces. I was immediately transported to another world, one where anything was possible and everything was delicious.

As I stood at the entrance of the first floor Golden Wok, my eyes immediately scanned the room, searching for Dickinson.

My phone beeped and I looked at it. It was a message.

Table 19 ~ Dickinson.

My eyes followed the numbers on the tables and there he was, sitting at a small table in the corner, a warm smile on his face.

I made my way over to him, my heart fluttering in my chest. As I approached, I took a moment to really look at him. He was dressed in a crisp, white dress shirt that hugged his broad shoulders and tapered down to his narrow waist.

The sleeves were rolled up to his elbows, revealing his strong, tanned forearms. He looked absolutely handsome, and I felt a surge of excitement at the thought of spending the evening with him.

His features were strong and defined, with a straight nose, high cheekbones, and a square jaw. His eyes were a warm, inviting brown, and they twinkled with amusement as I approached. He had a head of thick, dark hair that was styled in a messy, yet intentional way. He looked like he had just stepped out of a magazine, and I couldn't help but feel a little intimidated by his confidence and charm.

"Hi there," he said, standing up as I reached the table. "Hi," I replied, feeling a little nervous all of a sudden.

"Please, sit down," he said, pulling out my chair for me. I took a seat, still feeling a little overwhelmed by his presence. I couldn't help but feel grateful for Dickinson's choice of restaurant.

This was going to be a night to remember, and I was eager to try everything on the menu. From hot and spicy dishes to sweet and savory, I was ready for it all.

Once we were seated, I took a moment to appreciate the atmosphere of the restaurant. The warm lighting and traditional décor made me feel like I was in a different world. As we looked over the menu, I couldn't help but feel grateful for this special evening and for the person who had made it all possible.

"What do you recommend?" I asked Dickinson, eager to hear his thoughts on the best dishes.

"Szechuang chicken is always a favorite of mine," he replied with a smile. "And the dumplings are always a hit too."

I nodded, feeling excited about trying both. We placed our order and settled back in our seats.

As the dishes arrived, I was struck by the beautiful presentation and the delicious smells that wafted from the plates. I eagerly took a bite of the Szechuan chicken, and I was blown away by the explosion of flavors in my mouth. The heat of the spices mixed with the sweetness of the sauce, and I couldn't help but close my eyes in delight.

The rest of the meal was just as delicious, and before I knew it, dessert was being served. We tried the traditional egg tarts and sipped on hot tea.

… Dickinson POV…

As I sat at the table in the Golden Wok restaurant, I couldn't help but feel a mixture of excitement and nervousness. I had been looking forward to this evening with Emile for weeks, and I was eager to get to understand her feelings. I checked my phone for the time, and just as I was putting it back in my pocket, I saw her walking towards me.

She was stunning in a simple, yet elegant, dress that flattered her figure and complimented her beautiful brown hair. I stood up as she approached, admiring the way the light caught in her eyes and the way her smile lit up her face. I felt my heart skip a beat as I pulled out her chair for her.