Meeting dad

The next day you were in good spirits and even better when it was time for you to pick up Carmen. You'd offered to pick her up at her place this time, which Carmen agreed to with some trepidation. She was obviously worried about her dad doing something silly. Promising her you'd give him no excuses to do so, you had gotten her agreement so there you were, parked outside her home and leaning against your car. Instead of Carmen, though, her father came out.

"Hello, young man" he said.

"Mister Dodson" you said.

"So you're the boy who's been courting my daughter, huh?" he asked.

"Yes I am, sir" you said. Extending your hand you said "I'm John Doe"

"Fernando Dodson" he replied, shaking your hand. "So my daughter's been talking about you a lot, lately. I trust that you've been keep your hands to yourself?"

"Yes, sir. First time we touched was that peck on the cheek she gave me last time" you said. You had the feeling that he was toying with you, given what Carmen had said of her father.

"So nothing happened?" he asked.

"Not in the least, sir" you said. "Well, that's not counting the fact that she made me take off my shirt" you added. He tried to look stern but you could see that there was a 'that's my girl' kind of pride underneath.

"As long as you didn't do the same to her" he replied.

"No sir, wouldn't dream of it. Not before marriage, anyway" you told him. Perhaps you were laying it on a little thick but it wouldn't help. Fernando looked at you with a cocked eyebrow.

"Are you Christian, John?" he asked.

"No, sir. Agnostic. Just respectful of women. Must be my family's fault" you answered. When Fernando didn't say anything you added: "I was raised by my mom alone after my dad left when I was 7. I also have two sisters." He nodded.

"I have two daughters, too. I love them both to bits, so you better not do anything to harm my Carmen. That includes breaking her heart" he cautioned you.

"Wouldn't dream of it, sir" you said. "We're just dating, though. Testing the waters, so to speak." At this he snorted.

"That's not right, to hear her tell it" Fernando told you. Before he could go on, though, Carmen showed up.

"Daddy, I hope you haven't been filling his ears with lies" she said. Smiling at you, she hooked her arm in yours. "Hi" she told you.

"Not at all, honey" Fernando said while he eyed Carmen's movements.

"Shall we go?" his daughter asked you.

"Let's" you said. "It was nice meeting you, mister Dodson" you told him.

"And you, John. Make sure to bring her home intact, happy, and on time" he replied.

"Yes, sir. Will do" you said. Carmen groaned and tugged on your arm. You got the hint and said goodbye to Carmen's dad before escorting her to the car and opening the passenger side door for her, after which you both got in and you sped off quickly.