13
Sebastian
When we park,Samaera asks, "Are you going to leave a $3,000,000 car unattended?"
I laugh, "No. Mickey's team is already here."
"Oh!" She looks around.
"I don't go anywhere alone. But they do their best to blend in so it's not obvious," I explain.
She opens her car door and gets out, looks around, and continues to scan for my security detail. "Are you sure? I don't see any beefcakes."
"Beefcakes?" I ask as I join her at the rear of the car.
"Yeah, you know. Big beefy bodyguards."
I laugh, "They'll come out once we're inside."
As we walk into the lost-in-time family pizzeria, the bell on the door tinkles to announce our arrival. She says, "This is awesome."
"My family has frequented this restaurant since I was young. Best pizza in New York."
She looks up at me and says, "I'm going to love your mother."
I look down at her, surprised by her prediction, and my heart nearly stops beating again. Her eyes are soft and kind as they look at me. "You're a good man." She pats my chest, then looks around the restaurant.
My mother is in the farthest booth from the door with her back to it, knowing I insist that I sit facing the room. "There she is," I say and point to the booth.
Samaera takes off without waiting for me, so I hang back to observe their initial exchange. She walks right up and introduces herself, completely unfazed and unintimidated. A characteristic she apparently possesses towards anyone. "Mrs. King, I am Sam Mathieson. It is a pleasure to meet you."
My mother's smile is the biggest and brightest I have seen on her face in years. "My dear, the pleasure is all mine. Please, call me Cilla."
As Samaera slides into the seat opposite, my mother looks back at me. "Well done," she says.
I give her shoulders a light hug. She beams up at me as I slide in next to Samaera.
"Sam, huh?" Her eyes twinkle.
"Yes, ma'am. It's short for Samaera."
"That's a lovely name!"
"Thank you."
"Cilla is short for Priscilla."
"That's a beautiful name." Samaera tilts her head and narrows her eyes. "It suits you."
If my mother could grin any bigger, she would. With her eyes dancing joyously, she says to me. "So, don't keep me in suspense, Bastian."
I grin, "Sam answered the ad this morning."
She giggles, "And you didn't know she was a woman."
"Technically, Chad didn't know."
"And your reaction?"
