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"See," she told us, "I knew the doctors would fix things"

Belinda saw this welcomed buoyancy in Mother as an opportunity to talk about all the things she had bought and all the places she had been It did a the way she asn't better after all They laughed a lot and Daddy's spirits rose as well

He hired a special duty nurse

to care for Mother when she was brought hoh the storular work schedule and Belinda picked up where she had left off on her social life Every night we had discussions about what her futureOur optimism blew out of proportion, I know, because we even talked about having her enroll in one of the better universities Daddy promised to talk to some of his influential associates and see what he could do

Mother began her che She lost her hair rapidly and was back to being listless and exhaustedin the hospital with the nurse rushing about, the paraphernalia to care for Mother's needs, and the doctor's frequent visits

I al, but Mother reminded me when she asked to be taken out to see her flowers and hear the birds The daisies bloomed and the petunias spread Sunlit lawns filled with crocus clusters The tulips, jonquils and daffodils burst colorfully froain the junipers swayed on the hills in rhythm with the warm breezes Sailboats were seen more frequently on weekends now It did look as if the world had come back to life and with it caive birth to ro wonderful to happen

However, I was still taken by surprise one day when a young an, the son of a man ned a small lobster boat fleet and distribution co with me He was a tall, well built reen eyes highlighted by his dark coht he was by far the best-looking man who had ever shown any interest in me

"I think it's very nice how you work side by side with your father," he said "I know froh value on your service Most of the wo I ood You look real fine, but it's nice to have soe"

I didn't reply and he looked flustered

"I don't e like some sort of uess I'

"I understand," I finally said His sreen eyes even more

"Good," he said "So, what do you say to having soht?"

"Excuse me?"

"Urngoing to dinner You'd choose the restaurant, of course," he added

"You're asking me to dinner?"