In truth he'd never thought about getting to know Florence's Mom well. Maybe he should have, hell maybe he should have put a ring on Florence's finger long ago but it hadn't been him back then. He hadn't wanted to walk the same path his parents had only to wind up like they had. Truth be told he wasn't sure he ever wanted to be married. Did it always have to come down to married? Down to a ring and a promise of forever that was bound by law. Couldn't they just be happy? But no, happiness meant a white dress for her and a fast track to being what everyone had expected him to be. Winding up where they'd all assumed, maybe even hoped.
Not that it mattered of course cause Florence didn't want him. Her smile as they climbed out of the car meant something of course but was it just sympathy, did she just want a fancy day out with him to prove she could win him back, was that it? Was he gonna walk inside to see the Commie bastard laughing in his face as he walked away with Freddie's girl, again. Or was he over reacting?
He'd told her he wouldn't push Sergievsky back at her every time he was angry or hurting and he had to remember that. He couldn't keep throwing it in her face, she'd apologized and he'd accepted. That had to be it.
This time they had to make different moves, play it differently.
They'd been through a lot, they were older now. It would be better.
When she took his arm he finally smiled back at her, maybe the kiss had been to much, maybe she wanted to take it slower, see where things went. She was on his arm though and that was something. There was even the usual Florence teasing. "Hey now I can be a Gentleman when I need to be, and I think tonight I definitely need to be, and no I've never been here before, I'm not sure if I should be worried you think I eat out in fancy place like this alone or if you think there were other women. I've had it highly recommended though, so that's good enough for me. I thin you'll like it." he told her as they stepped through the doors