I’ll be thirty-eight, then he’ll be thirty-six.”“OK, it’s a two-month early birthday present.”“Two and a half,” she threw in, a little...sharply.“Oh, a math major,” I said with a little snark.“Sorry. I’m being defensive. I’m not used to anything good happening for me or to me. It’s been a long time. Plus, I don’t want you spending Charlie’s money on my problems.”“Cheryl, we’ll talk. I have my own money, but Charlie let me do this.”“Oh, one of those kind, huh? Does Charlie ‘LET’ you do things?”. ‘There’s got to be something I can do to help,’ I pleaded, feeling helpless. ‘Could use a cup of coffee,’ Dad suggested. He smiled at me. ‘That and some patience, Flick. That’s all ya can do for me.’ I was moved with the sudden urge to hug my father, something I’d never once done in my life. It would have been weird though because Dad didn’t exactly invite affection. Instead, I rose to my feet and set about making another pot of coffee for him. ‘Better get back to work, punkin,’ he said after. East winds don’t ... usually ... carry folks away.At the corner I turned south and found the shop door. After I got it open I counted suits as they came in. I started with three ... ended with three ... can’t say I didn’t try ... you know ... lawyers. There’s a lawyer for every 23 people. Might change that in a lake effect blizzard.I hollered at Gonzalez, “Fire up and shut this door.” He heard me ... the wind was blowing my yelling in.“Sí, Patrón,” he said. Well ... That’s what I took him to. Uh? ‘When’ ‘Sorry Darling, what?’.. ‘When’ I looked down, if it was in one-and-one half inches thenI was born in Scotland. ‘I’m sorry, Darling, but it’s not in yet’! the hurt showed in my voice. ‘Yes it is, I can feel it, and it feels big’. A statement from her. ‘Darling, we are both supposed to enjoy love-making’, I said, ‘and I havn’t even started yet, there is lots more for you to have and lots more for me to enjoy’. ‘It’s big’, she said. ‘Look, love, I am not even trying, hava look, there’s.