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Show house// 456 unclenched my fists and spread my hands before me on the table. I could not look at him. "I'm not surprised," he said, smiling tightly. "It is very important that we be married soon. Lives - lis life - could depend upon it. I have this feeling..." My father said nothing. His forehead knitted again. "Brian's mother won't let us get married and he needs tier permission. We'll have to get married in Mexico." I'll need five hundred dollars and a plane ticket. Will you loan me the money He looked up and met my eyes, his tight smile shattering, the deck of cards clutched fiercely in one hand. "Don't you think you should have asked my permission to marry this young man?" His voice was gruff. "Actually, he should have asked my permission." "Oh, Daddy - I didn't think you cared..." I bit my lip, seeing how my words tstung him. "Besides, he's in San Diego by now." He nodded. "Meet me at my office on Monday morning. We'll go to the bank together." Before I knew it, my arms were around him. I was nearly sobbing with relief. It seemed to me that apocalypse, like a great, fiery bird of prey, had circled then moved on. "Oh, Daddy, I love you." I kissed my mother. "What will you do?" she asked. "Surely Brian doesn't want you to be alone." "Can I move back home?" There was humility in my voice. "Just while Brian is away." My mother nodded and patted my back as she hugged me. % father shuffled the cards, and smiled tightly. It seemed that he always won, in the end. |