If only Dad could be here...389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhlo6L8FuSk
By Edith Patterson Hill, Rockford, Illinois389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL8fhZOn5aa
My father was a keen observer of human nature. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡXO7TbIii9V
Within seconds of meeting someone, he could summarize their 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡqPmlMbjeqM
strengths and weaknesses. It was always a challenge to see if any of my ,389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYcZIw7nwlP
boyfriends would pass the paternity test. No one did. Dad was always right - they didn't pass my test either. When Father died, I wondered how to figure it out myself. Then Jack arrived. He was different than any other man I had met. He could sit at the piano bench with my mother for , hours and discuss , obscure composers. My brother Rick loudly announced to that Jack was no turkey like the other boys I brought home. My sister Denise used to laugh with her about the old 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrVUYwzZ7Cz
Danny Kaye movies. And Jack was great with my mentally challenged brother 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMoLKHF9mcq
Chuck. At one point, Chuck put his greasy hands, fresh off a cheeseburger, on 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrYv2yqw1A4
Jack's shoulders, kissed his cheek with ketchup-coated lips, and called him by the wrong name, exclaiming, "Ah, Jeff, I love ya. !" Jack didn't miss it. you, George!" 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ6iVea1QLRg
Jack passed my family test. What about Dad? Then came the weekend of my mother's birthday. Jack came from his home in Milwaukee to Chicago. On the day he had to drive, I got a call: "Don't worry," he said, "but I was in an accident." His car had suspended; when he stopped, another car hit. "I'm fine, but you have to come to me." Thank God she's fine, I thought as I drove to Milwaukee. When we got there, we rushed to flower shop to get something for mom. "What about gardenias?" Jack said showing a beautiful white bodice. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRlIuCW0Mbo
"You never see them this time of year," I said. Flower shop put a corsage in a box.389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡh19HL2MYbD
During the trip, Jack was unusually calm. "Are you 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcydlE7kLTc
right?" I asked. We drove to my mother's street. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8znDpAxjMq
"I've been thinking a lot," he said. "I might be in the 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTL7AMiPYRd
movement." Moving? When did he tell me that? When did he pack ? 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ82Wqx6oluQ
Then he added: "Moreover, to you." I almost put the car on the pavement. "What?" I asked. "I think we should get married," he said. He told me that he was planning a great restaurant, but after 's accident, he decided to do it now. "Yes," I whispered 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsnECvlKLIV
. We both sat speechless, tears streaming down our cheeks, unable to speak. I have never felt such a tender moment. If only Dad was here to give the final approval. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ3j7lyKWqcu
"Oh, let's just go in," Jack said with a laugh. We got out of the car and he walked down the driveway carrying the Corsa. My mother opened the door. "Happy birthday!" we shouted. Jack pushed the box towards him. He opened it. 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYIFVQRk12h
Suddenly his eyes filled with tears. Jack and I looked at each other . "Mom, what's wrong?" I asked. "I'm sorry," she said, wiping her eyes. "This is only the 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvx9GH0eS6A
th gardenia corsilla I have ever received. I received years ago, long before I had children." "By whom?" I asked. "Your father," said mother. "He gave me one right before # when we got engaged." My eyes locked on Jack as I blinked back 389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡz5hgVKUFjk
tears. Dad's test? I knew Jack had passed.389Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡTm2TtZOqK3
