MMA romance

Chapter 3 - the dinner

Rose was super nervous about going to Sunday dinner at Livy’s parents. Well apparently it was Livy’s dad and step-mom. Livy gave her the rundown last night when her dad texted Olivia invited both of them for dinner on Sunday.

Apparently her grandparents immigrated from Italy and still go back every year. Olivia’s family is big on tradition, they are also strictly Roman-catholic. Rose didn’t ask about her parents divorce, it didn’t seem appropriate. But Rose knew that divorce for Catholics was frowned upon. In some instances it was forbidden.

However, it wasn’t her place to ask she just tried to find her most appropriate outfit. Rose didn’t have much in that category. She was going to college, not planning on impressing people at this stage anyway. Livy helped her with an outfit, it was a nice light blue blouse and the nicest pair of blue jeans she owned.

“Okay when they ask if we went to church, say we didn’t have time but we read some versus from the Bible.” Livy says on the way over.

“What if they ask me to recite any bible versus?”

“Do you know any?” Rose tried to remember some, she went to bible school as a kid.

“Though I walk through the valley of death I shall fear no evil.”

“Good, where’s it from?”

“Uhhh… the Bible.” Livy laughed at that,

“No the book, chapter and verse?”

“How would I know? I just remember it cause it sounded cool.” Rose said and Olivia laughed.

“Psalms chapter 23, verse 4. And yes it is cool, it gives a lot of people comfort. The full verse is. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.” Rose tried mesmerizing the verse. It wasn’t that hard, teachers in school told her that she had photographic memory. That wasn’t true, even though she wished she did, her memory was just very good.

“Any others?” Livy asked. The girls went over bible verses and the run down on her family the ride over. The campus was very close to Lake Michigan. Livy’s family lived in a nice suburb of Chicago in Naperville. Naperville was about a forty-five minute drive on a good day from campus. It took them a little over an hour to get there.

“I don’t think I will ever get used to the Chicago traffic,” Rose said as she exited the car. Livy laughed,

“It will probably take you about four years.” Rose laughed at that as well. The girls didn’t even make it to the door before it was opened and a man and woman stood at the door to greet them. The man who appeared to be in his early fifties walked down the steps to embrace Olivia.

“My baby is back!” Olivia seemed to be embarrassed.

“Dad I haven’t even been gone for three days! You just saw me on Friday!” Rose couldn’t help but laugh. That caused Olivia’s father to pull back and look at her.

“And who might you be?” He asked.

“Hello sir, I’m Roselyn McNally. I’m roommates with your daughter.” Rose stuck out her hand, Olivia’s father gave her a wide smile and shook it.

“Nice to meet you Rosie. I’m Joey Romano, it’s always nice to meet a young person with manners. This is my wife, Maria and I believe you met her son Kane?” He asked.

“Just briefly sir, and it’s nice to meet you, the both of you.” Maria pulled me into a hug, one I returned.

“Come in, please.” Rose followed the couple into the home and found it full with people. Rose was overwhelmed, she didn’t expect to see this many people here.

“Olivia, you didn’t tell me there would be this many people here.” Rose said in a stage whisper and Olivia shrugged it off.

“Come on Rose, you will love the first course.”

“First course?” She asked and Livy laughed.

Kane pov

I show up late to Sunday dinner as per usual. When we say “dinner” it’s more like an all day affair that begins once church is over. I head up to my old room only to find Livy’s roommate in it.

“What are you doing in here?” He asked confused. Kane would normally be mad some one was in his space, but for some reason he wasn’t.

“Hiding, and sorry I thought this was Olivia’s room.” She said and started to leave.

“It’s ok you don’t have to leave.” Kane wasn’t sure why he was inviting her to stay. “Why are you hiding?”

“I can’t remember any more bible verses.” Kane busted out laughing, the Romano family was strictly catholic.

“It’s not funny!” She said in a whisper-yell.

“Yeah it is, I remember what that’s like. You just have to tell them you aren’t religious.”

“I’m a guest, I don’t want to be rude.”

“Well they are guests too, and they are still rude to my mom.” Kane said with anger in his voice.

“I’m sorry.” She said with sympathy in her voice.

“No I don’t want to talk about that.” Kane said brushing her off.

“It’s not right, your mom is amazing. She was so sweet to me.” She pressed the topic,

“I said I don’t want to talk about it!” He yelled and she shrank back.

“s**t! I’m sorry.” She opened the door.

“It’s ok, I’m just going to go.” She hurriedly exited the room and went downstairs into the melee.

Shit! He punched the punching bag in the corner a few times trying to relieve some of his anger. She was just trying to be nice and he had to go and blow up on her. Joe was right, he needed to control his anger.

Hell I don’t even know the girls name.

The dinner was like it always was for him, which is why he hated it. Joe banned them from being outright nasty to his mom but they still made passive aggressive comments to his mother. This dinner his mother made shrimp scampi. No one touched it except for: him, Olivia, Joe, and Olivia’s roommate. It was amazing.

“The fettuccine you made Marie is good sweetheart.” My mom blushed under the praised.

“I tried it earlier and it was dry, why don’t you have some of my meatballs son.” Grandma Romano said. Kane gripped the fork so hard that it bent to match his hand.

“I think it’s delicious too Mrs. Romano.” Olivia’s roommate said. His mom who had deflated at the old bat’s comment had smiled again hearing another comment.

“What do you know about Italian dishes? You are nobody.” That pissed him off, and he wasn’t the only one.

“Mother that is enough! I’m tired of you disrespecting my wife in her own home and now you disrespect my daughters guests. I think it’s time you leave.” He looked at the girl and saw she was crying.

“I’m sorry, please excuse me.” The girl said and ran out of the room.

“Nice going grandma.” Olivia said as she followed her roommate and my mom got up and followed the two girls.

“Really mother? Making eighteen year old girls cry? Could you be anymore vicious?” Joe asked and Kane just sat there with a smile on his face.