Love Began with the First Meeting

"Richie will give up soon and go look for her himself," Brian said, confident that his father would take care of things.

Eric grinned and went on to ask,"What about Little Molly?"

Brian halted in front of the door and glanced over his shoulder at Eric. His dark eyes rippled and he maintained a casual voice,"She has you, doesn't she?"

"Are you entrusting her to me?" Eric asked as he left the bar counter. "Aren't you afraid that she might really become my wife one day?"

"Please ask me this question again when she agrees to become yours." Brian left with a smug smile on his face.

He thought to himself, 'Molly, don't you want to leave me?

Let's wait and see if you will really be able to leave me even if you have Shirley's help.'

**

Molly and Shirley stayed at the cafe for quite a long while. It was past dinner time and their table was in quite a mess. They had ordered too many different ice creams and they had melted before they could start eating them. The table was now a colorful mess of melted ice creams.

The entrance door to the cafe was pushed open suddenly and Antonio rushed in.

Shirley wasn't surprised at Antonio's arrival, but as she expectantly looked behind Antonio, a dash of disappointment flashed through her eyes because she couldn't see the man whom she was expecting.

invited you for dinner,"

Shirley refused bluntly. She knew that Wing was hoping to be the mediator. Wing would surely put in a good word for Richie during dinner. Shirley was aggrieved that Richie hadn't come to get her himself. She was surely acting a little bit wayward this time, but why did he have to be so serious

was about to say something, but was stopped by Shirley's words. "Little Molly and I have something to do. I don't have

Shirley waved at the waiter and paid the bill. Then she took Molly's hand and left the cafe. Molly stayed silent throughout the conversation between them.

taxi and leave. With a sigh, he shook his head and left the cafe

gloominess had been long chased away by Shirley's words at the cafe. She was much happier now, but still, she was worried that Brian would get even

do anything to punish you today," Shirley held Molly's hand and reassured her. She seemed to have read Molly's

still felt quite uneasy. But she nodded with a firm look in her eyes. She realized that it was pointless to worry about the unpredictable things that might or might not occur in

She smiled wickedly and

haven't you ever been to a casino before?" asked

Molly and whispered,"Let's go to Brian's

for a moment and said,"Aunt

could finish her sentence, Shirley cut in,"We will just go and have a little fun. It's okay." With her carefree attitude, Shirley turned to the driver and

because her father owed gambling loan

aware of the secret rules of the casinos, even though she had only worked there for a

one day. She felt horrible

up her complex emotions and said,"Okay, Aunt Shirley. If that's what you want, then let's go have some fun. But only

we do there? We are just going to play some games," Shirley said. Then she grinned mischievously and asked in a whisper,"Little Molly, how about we win