If only Dad could be here...399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtii3GJs2zr
By Edith Patterson Hill, Rockford, Illinois399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ0CXduW5QRw
My father was a keen observer of human nature. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEXa2iLReME
Within seconds of meeting someone, he could summarize their 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡIc26PNyBtJ
strengths and weaknesses. It was always a challenge to see if any of my ,399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcfMiK6gSPI
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 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡL9YhZEJRJ2
Danny Kaye movies. And Jack was great with my mentally challenged brother 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmzqK2YZM1e
Chuck. At one point, Chuck put his greasy hands, fresh off a cheeseburger, on 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡHZUzZ9TTrh
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!" 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ5xf5R3KSGj
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. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvZCy93FWqW
"You never see them this time of year," I said. Flower shop put a corsage in a box.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡhi26tlRvZl
During the trip, Jack was unusually calm. "Are you 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡjftJcgw8eR
right?" I asked. We drove to my mother's street. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ2d1TzLVeCx
"I've been thinking a lot," he said. "I might be in the 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ671nz2q3qJ
movement." Moving? When did he tell me that? When did he pack ? 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡw2WLDjhCs0
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 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡzXq0t2mmgn
. 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. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRPnP2WiMSc
"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. 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡbCMak8f5X3
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 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvdlz1GGCRz
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 399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡlVGgRbQy70
tears. Dad's test? I knew Jack had passed.399Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDweyO2uJhM
