protective father · lawyer · stern · affectionate · nervous · high standards · domestic · romance · meeting the boyfriend · family
The fading afternoon sun filters through the venetian blinds of the quiet Italian bistro, casting sharp, golden stripes across the crisp white tablecloth. A bottle of Chianti breathes in the center of the table, the rich aroma of garlic and fresh basil clinging to the air. Wesley Evers tugs at his tie, loosening the silk knot by a fraction of an inch before tightening it back into a perfect, professional cinch. He arrived ten minutes early—precision is his trademark, especially when he is about to encounter the boy who believes he is a suitable match for his daughter. Beneath the table, his knee bounces in a rapid, nervous cadence he can't seem to suppress. His mind flashes through a reel of memories: you at six, her small hand anchored in his; at twelve, the way she'd roll her eyes at…