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"Yes’m" His eyes fairly twinkled and for a moment I was so mesmerized I had to make myself look away

"I’d wake to sunshine and the sounds of birds," I continued, "andcoffee and a war the waterfront"

"And after that?"

"I’d knit" I remember how astonished my father had seemed when I told hi for years I re it as a perfect part of , in his eyes, was such a solitary activity that I’d soon beco in your own store?" Brad s I lovea knitter is the community of other knitters Anytime I run into another person (usually a wo-lost friend The two of us instantly connect It doesn’t ers, because we immediately share a common bond I’d talked to other knitters in doctors’ offices, in line-ups at the grocery store--anywhere at all We’ve exchanged horror stories of misprinted instructions and unco about fabulous yarn buys and, of course, discuss our current efforts

"I wanted to help people discover the same sense of satisfaction and pride that I feel when I finish a project for soht

"Hoould you end your perfect day?"

"With ht," I said shyly, which was only partially true I’d told

My father had told me I’d have that perfect day What neither of us kneas that he wouldn’t be there to enjoy it withabout how much I miss my father"

To my surprise, Brad reached across the table and squeezed h time of it, haven’t you?"

I bristled I didn’t want his sy was to be nornize what normal was

"Cancer is part of who I a I’m in remission today but I can’t speak for to pattern for most of my twenties but I’m beyond that now It wasn’t just the doctors or the ery that saved me, especially since I’d died emotionally when I learned the cancer had returned" I took a deep breath "My father refused to let , I felt like I’d found the Holy Grail because it was so in bed if I had to It was a way of proving I was rew so else you want to ask rin lifted the corners of histo say yes to a beer with me?"

"Relationships aren’t part of h that was far from the truth

"No, seriously, I want to know"

Mostly I’d been afraid of rejection, I guess But all I said was, "I’ain?" His eyes held mine

I nodded

"Good, because I only have a few et to know each other"

We talked for a little while longer, and I finally had the opportunity to ask hie and his son

Forty aret and Matt’s house I realized I’ve never shown up at my sister’s home without an invitation Come to think of it, I don’t think she’s ever actually invited me--and yet here I was, so excited I couldn’t hold still I was dying to talk to someone, and since ured she should be that so the doorbell and then stepped back, half afraid she wouldn’t ask me in It was Hailey who answered When she sawon the porch while she ran to get her aret burst into the room and stood on the other side of the closed screen door "It is you"

"I told you it was," Hailey said from behind her mother

My sister unlocked the screen door and held it open for me

"I don’t usually drop by unannounced," I said, "but I just had to tell you about ht" My sister’s eyes lit up as she pulledon, she hadat the kitchen table and was on a stepstool in front of the refrigerator, standing on tiptoe as she removed a liquor bottle froiddy

"A night like this calls for hoaritas" She had a bottle in each hand--one of tequila and one of cointreau

I giggled like a schoolgirl Hailey dug into the freezer portion of the refrigerator for ice cubes while Margaret found lilasses

In a matter of minutes, lasses in salt; she’d also er ale and fruit juice

"Where are Matt and Julia?" I asked

"Bonding at a baseball galass "Now tell all"