Parental Instincts

Lillian Grey would have read the note over a hundred times, but still, it feels like the first time reading it.

"Lilly," a distant echo heard.

The voice kept calling her. Lillian Grey, in her daze zone, got disturbed when she heard her name getting summoned.

She snapped out it and listened to the voice.

"Lillian Grey," the voice growled at a distant.

'Dad' – Lillian heard him.

Realizing what she was doing, Lillian Grey hooped out of the seat and carefully kept the gift inside the study table drawer.

Coming out of her room, she saw Edwin waiting downstairs.

"What happened?" Lillian asked while descending the stairs.

Edwin noticed the unseen radiance in his daughter's face. She was practically glowing.

"What happened to you?" he asked confoundedly.

Lillian Grey did not understand the question; she blinked.

"Why are you so flustered?" Edwin framed the question in another way.

Lillian only glowed more, unable to control the light of happiness she felt in her heart.

"N- Nothing," she replied, her lips curled up naughtily.

Edwin knew the look; the look that tells that someone is in cloud nine; in love.

He, himself crossed the age and came; he was able to suspect that his beautiful, lovely daughter is going through the phase of experiencing love.

A part of him was happy for Lillian, but a part of him also felt bitter.

As a father, he couldn't control his parental pressure in learning about his daughter's dating life. However, now is not the time, Edwin knows Lillian Grey, and it goes the same to the daughter as well.

Believing in his daughter, Edwin chose to remain quiet until the day when Lillian tells him by herself.

Coming back to the reason why he called her: because Lillian didn't stay at home all day, Edwin had the leftovers from last night dinner for lunch. He did not cook any dishes today other than breakfast.

"What do you want for Dinner, Lilly?" Edwin asked.

Lillian Grey thought for a while, before suggesting an idea.

"Dad, let's go out for dinner."

"It's been a long time since we ate together outside, in a restaurant."

"There's a newly opened Italian restaurant in the neighborhood. Let's visit them."

Edwin thought about it; it was a good idea. Indeed, it's been so long since the father and daughter dined outside. Both were busy in their lives. Also, Edwin thought it would good to relax and enjoy the moment as a family, together before Lillian's final exams.

After she graduates from high school, it's time for college. Who knows what might happen in the future?

Watching his daughter grow, Edwin worried that he would miss the opportunity to spend time together with Lillian. And so, he planned to use every chance to make memories with his family.

"That sounds good."

Edwin agreed.

"Alright, go get ready. We will leave right away," Edwin advised.

Lillian Grey nodded; returning to her room to get ready.

***

'ANTICHI SAPORI' is the newly opened Italian restaurant in the neighborhood.

Meaning the 'Old Taste,' this Italian restaurant focuses on bringing out the authentic traditional Italian cooking to the states.

Lillian Grey dressed in her Rainbow striped tunic dress while Edwin wore his casuals. Edwin looked clean shaved and relatively young for his age; the youthful genes that run in his family.

Lillian Grey received it as well; Both appeared dashing for the night.

The two got seated in a vintage designed Italian themed table. The restaurant had ancient wall art that showed the beautiful architectures of Venice. The owner of the restaurant is from the city, and so, he displayed a lot of artworks referring to culture.

"Looks so posh," Lillian commented as she took a detailed look around the restaurant, observing the aesthetics and atmosphere.

"It has a nice feeling to it," Edwin joined the watch as well.

Both of them gawked at the surrounding for a while before the waiter came in to give them Menu cards.

Edwin loves Italian food and also knows a lot about it. He helped Lillian Grey order.

Cioppino soup for starters,

Stuffed shells with Marinara for Lillian Grey and Stuffed Lamb breast with Lemon, Ricotta, and Oregano for Edwin.

The restaurant also serves classic Italian drinks and so, Edwin ordered himself, Negroni - a bittersweet Italian standard cocktail with Equal parts of Gin, Vermouth, and Campari.

For dessert, Lillian Grey chose Spiced Coffee Affogato with Vanilla Ice Cream. Edwin ordered Ricotta Pie with Amarena Cherries.

Edwin loves to taste different versions of Ricotta, and so, he chose his dishes wisely.

Soon after placing their orders, one by one, the dishes got served piping hot and fresh.

Lillian Grey and Edwin dig into the food without wasting any minute.

Throughout the dinner, both enjoyed the food and conversed about general topics. Edwin advised Lillian Grey to consider her future and start thinking about the career she wants to choose. Lillian Grey listened to him, attentively.

Amid their delectable dinner, Edwin opened about a topic that piqued Lillian's attention.

"Who did you meet today?" Edwin opened.

Lillian Grey took a bite of the stuffed shell, tasting the marinara sauce. Licking her lips coated in the sauce, the mouthful she took got stuck in the throat after hearing her father ask a question.

Clearing her throat by taking a big gulp of water, Lillian Grey looked up to see her father's eyes still expecting for an answer.

"Ah- Ah…" Lillian stretched. Her mind developing an impromptu plot to fill the pot.

A plot that satisfies her father and convinces him to not go deep into it.

She wasn't expecting to introduce Giselle to her father so soon. Even so, if she wants to do it, she needed a more comfortable environment.

Sitting in a restaurant and dinning the Italian feast did seem like an appeasing environment to talk about Giselle. But, the question ingrained fear into Lillian.

'Who is Giselle to her?' – The answer to that question remains blank till now. She knew Giselle is not only a friend, yet Lillian failed to grasp the blooming bond between the two.

Not panicking in front of her father and expose herself, Lillian Grey posed a beaming smile.

"It's classmate, dad."

Lillian's vague reply did not satisfy Edwin Grey. He creased his brows in disapproval.

"She is a good student and offered to help me study Math easily," Lillian added.

"Oh, it is SHE!" Edwin remarked.

Another smack in her head mentally, Lillian Grey bite her tongue to blame herself for developing a failure plot. While face-palming herself inside, Edwin shot his second question.

"I hope the SHE has a name?" he asked.

The weather is clear, yet Lillian Grey could hear loud thunderstorms inside. It felt like a tsunami hit her personally.

"Y- Yes, What is she, an imaginary girl?" Lillian chuckled, hiding her growing panic.

"So, what is her name?" Edwin drove Lillian to a corner.

Losing to her father, Lillian Grey felt to reveal the name of the person who is important to her right now.

"Giselle" Lillian revealed.

Edwin saw the little frown on his daughter's face.

He knew that he pressured her to spit it out.

What can he do?

His parental instinct was in alert and kept insisting him to know who this person behind his daughter's radiance is?

Finally, he got an answer, and it is a girl named Giselle.