" He raised an eyebrow. "Tell me you at least added some meat and vegetables to it." "Um, no, can't say we did." Ryan had the grace to look embarrasse.... "I don't know how you've lived this long," he said, but couldn't help a chuckle. "But if I hadn't done that, how could I appreciate you now?" "There's something to be said for appreciation," he allowed. "Now, sit. It's almost ready." Ryan smiled as she sat back in the chair. She'd had a busy day, been late for rehearsal, and had come right from. “I don’t recall you telling that story before, Mom,” Mike Germaine said as the four of us moved towards the right side exit from the sanctuary.“I’m sorry, Dear, but that isn’t something I’ve felt like sharing with anyone ... until that wonderful experience I felt as you kids were playing that song.” Ms. Patsy calmly said to your son, and us.“I’m not upset, Mom. I just, there’s so little I know of Grandpa Smithson, and that was just remarkable to hear.”“May be now, I’ll be able to share what few. All of our groceries and staples were now delivered, as going out was no longer an option. The house had an entertainment system, a workout space, a sauna and a wine cellar. All the bells and whistles, my father made sure of that.So I settled in.Dad’s large insurance settlement had set my mother up very comfortably, so she wouldn't have to worry about money ever again.My job in the city started laying everyone off due to the Pandemic, so I quit to be with Dee.Now I could “keep an eye on her”. A decade older than the twenty-something secretaries about whom there had also been rumors, the large breasted blonde was also that much younger than the darker haired Hispanic woman. It was her much commented on assets that drew the attention of most men in the office – including Jack.Despite the difference in their ages and positions in the company, the two women were, if not close friends, sometime drinking buddies, and it had been on one of those nights that Carla had directly asked her.