The Man With the Alabaster Heart (4 page)

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Clarice's birthday bash was held in a municipal park the last Sunday in June. I was surprised that the park was available, given that June was a prime month for outdoor weddings, but Ted told me his mother-in-law had booked the park a year in advance.

The entire Grosbeck clan attended the party, including Great Uncle Sherman, Milton, and me. I managed to keep my oddball sense of humor in check, although I did wear my cream-colored pants, white polo shirt, white shoes, and white socks for the occasion just so I could give Great Uncle Sherman a look at the entire ensemble.

Milton's great uncle still wouldn't shake my hand--or Milton's, for that matter--but he didn't order us out of the park or call my boyfriend any hurtful names. Like Mrs. Grosbeck told us, it would just take time. At least we were all together.

I caught Milton's mother giving us a wistful look while Milton and I sat next to each other, hand in hand, listening to Roy tell a fascinating story about the one and only time he caught a touchdown pass in college. Roy, I should tell you, played defense, and the touchdown pass was an interception. Considering that Roy weighed a good two hundred and fifty pounds, the image of him returning a sixty yard interception was funny enough even without his hilarious embellishments.

When I caught Mrs. Grosbeck's eye, she nodded at me and mouthed
thank you
. I nodded back. She was a strong woman, even if she did have a thing about dirt. Although she might be working on over-coming that as well. I mean, it wasn't not like there was such a thing as a dust-free park.

Who knows. If we can all work together to melt Great Uncle Sherman's old alabaster heart, maybe we can work on introducing Milton's mother to mine. Just so long as we don't set up the meeting at
my
mother's house. Even I know when I'm pushing my luck.

End.

If you liked this book, you might like: The Perfect Pumpkin Pie, Marvin the Marmot Falls in Love and Christmas on the Coast

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