If only Dad could be here...398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMORl8G4Awy
By Edith Patterson Hill, Rockford, Illinois398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡoTmd7OOesX
My father was a keen observer of human nature. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡdQocCCg4QM
Within seconds of meeting someone, he could summarize their 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡMBe40SkiOh
strengths and weaknesses. It was always a challenge to see if any of my ,398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1S96GtFzw1
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 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡvKhGuIBZxD
Danny Kaye movies. And Jack was great with my mentally challenged brother 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡ1TekEpRCHk
Chuck. At one point, Chuck put his greasy hands, fresh off a cheeseburger, on 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡJSmkdbZcvz
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!" 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡji5tqpgt47
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. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡVRulheCFOo
"You never see them this time of year," I said. Flower shop put a corsage in a box.398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡWz1BlJw2RX
During the trip, Jack was unusually calm. "Are you 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡpwWewHpCYC
right?" I asked. We drove to my mother's street. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡrR5HEMFLgz
"I've been thinking a lot," he said. "I might be in the 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡRrqsLjnjyR
movement." Moving? When did he tell me that? When did he pack ? 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxTKVOThrpC
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 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡsxOuTr5UVr
. 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. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡEBuhpIUq3P
"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. 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡxJHrv0LLRw
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 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLMjLecK0eU
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 398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡLFP96uFsRW
tears. Dad's test? I knew Jack had passed.398Please respect copyright.ＰＥＮＡＮＡO3ml3DTbJe
