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Her face was flushed, and I surlass of asn’t her first Which was a fair assuiven the almost empty bottle between them

Both of the I looked fro to place hih he was older, I could admit he was a handso—which was really, really odd—that she agreed Huh

“Oh hi, Whitney! I didn’t realize you’d be ho to the man “You remember Leonard Ship, your father’s friend froue? They knew each other for years He bought the house across the street The Vaughn’s house He caarden Wasn’t that nice?” She was ra out of the Twilight Zone

Leonard got to his feet and held out his hand, and I took it a little reluctantly I wasn’t naive enough to think ain after Dad died, but I could also adood way I wanted my mother to be happy, but

“Little Whitney You sure have grown up You’re just as beautiful as your h it was a total line, Leonard didn’t coet in ht

My et you everywhere”

It felt like I itnessing a senior’s dating reality show

I quickly extracted rip “I think I re tiah it felt strained These were unchartered waters, and I was completely clueless on how to proceed And I was super uncomfortable

“Your dad was a dear friend I was at the funeral, but I’m sure you don’t remember me There were so ave my mother a kind s the smile my way, and it turned a bit sheepish “I’otten ho, but Ithe company It’s been lonely since my wife, Clara, died last year”

He was a er This

Morew serious “Clara is truly missed, Leo She was such a special woman” And she meant it too My mother loved most everyone And everyone loved her