If only Dad could be here...297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdd0HKaQq51
By Edith Patterson Hill, Rockford, Illinois297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpcuRUYfDVg
My father was a keen observer of human nature. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡo2cWIeFNbb
Within seconds of meeting someone, he could summarize their 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡROflDDvQyj
strengths and weaknesses. It was always a challenge to see if any of my ,297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡT4kCjPfeFx
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 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8IdjV77N9r
Danny Kaye movies. And Jack was great with my mentally challenged brother 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡNncfCkq7qw
Chuck. At one point, Chuck put his greasy hands, fresh off a cheeseburger, on 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡYe3XQrD6xS
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!" 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡcR2PMcWsto
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. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ8NfAE3xdhc
"You never see them this time of year," I said. Flower shop put a corsage in a box.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡwMf1vjoIh6
During the trip, Jack was unusually calm. "Are you 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ7AWC48PL6V
right?" I asked. We drove to my mother's street. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvsFtBnjGuW
"I've been thinking a lot," he said. "I might be in the 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdz194DKDxI
movement." Moving? When did he tell me that? When did he pack ? 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡQLIvzhZ8NY
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 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡtzaD1vj6TJ
. 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. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ4WRuEaynEc
"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. 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡDTZaebii0Q
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 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmR2Op4B4tv
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 297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡmsBwgx4iRy
tears. Dad's test? I knew Jack had passed.297Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMFM65aokCe
