"At noon it shall be, Agape."
***
Always punctual, Anna arrived at noon.
She was more than happy to show Nikolas San Francisco. They took the cable car to the end of Fisherman's Wharf and back again, stopped at the fabulous Fairmont Hotel for champagne, and then drove to the famous Golden Gate Bridge.
"The whole world is talking about this great engineering achievement," commented Nikolas.
"Magnificent, magnificent," replied Anna. "By the way, Nikolas, my father will be waiting for you at the Mark Hopkins tonight at eight o'clock. Can you make it?"
"Perfect! Where in the hotel?"
"At the top. I'm sorry, at the bar at the top of the hotel," replied Anna. "I hope you like my father."
"I am sure I will. How could I possibly not?"
Their eyes met and Nikolas was instantly drawn to her, a magnetic force that he could not resist. He leaned over and kissed her.
They walked the whole length of the Golden Gate Bridge as the sun was setting over the edge of the Pacific Ocean casting a golden glow on the structure. They stood there holding each other tightly and dreamed the day would never end. A misty haze rose from the sea, it soon engulfed the entire bridge in fog. It seemed as if its structure suddenly vanished. Anna and Nikolas felt like they were floating in the clouds.
"I think it is time for us to go, love. I am freezing."
Nikolas took his jacket off and put it on Anna, holding her tightly to keep her warm as the bone-chilling fog became thicker.
"We have about two hours before I meet your father. Do you want to go home? I can take a taxi to the hotel."
"I'd like to stay with you a little longer, love. Let's go and have some hearty minestrone. I know a little Italian restaurant. What do you say?"
"It sounds good."
The owner, Giuseppe, knew Anna well. He came out of the kitchen with open arms and gave her a big hug.
"Oh, this is Captain Theophilos."
"Nikolas? Nikola? What a lucky man you are!"
"Thank you, Signor Giuseppe."
"Please, sit down," he said, pointing to a booth. "I know what you want."
Giuseppe ran the three-table restaurant with his warm-hearted wife. He was the waiter and the manager. Every morning, he went shopping for fresh vegetables and the best Italian bread in all of North Beach. He brought a whole loaf of it to the table, along with a tureen of beef minestrone and a bottle of Chianti.
"The wine is on me," said a happy Giuseppe. He knew what his reward would be: a kiss from Anna on each cheek.