“Sure thing!”He’s so cute. Valerie mentally giggled.She let another two days go by before phase three was activated. “Sweetie. I bought some n...ew bikinis. Would it be a bother to ask your opinion on them?” She called back from the kitchen as she was chopping up carrots.“I’m no expert, but of course I’ll help you out.” He clicked the television remote to change the channel from his position on the living room sofa.“I don’t need an expert, just an honest opinion.” She laughed. “Give me a bit and. Einen kleinen Beistelltisch mit einer Schublade, die dunkelrote Lackierung und die goldenen Beschläge gaben den ganzen einen Orientalischen Touch. "Ahhhh, ein schönes Stück Sie haben ausgesucht!"Ich zuckte zusammen, denn ich hatte den alten Mann nicht näher kommen gehört. Sichtlich amüsiert über meine Reaktion zwinkerte er mir zu und strich beinahe liebevoll über die kleine Tischplatte. "Altes Stück aus China, Handarbeit, kaum einer mehr kaufen solche Dinge."Immer noch ein wenig verschreckt von. I somehow made it to my mother and father’s house, the same one they’ve lived in since I was a kid, without getting myself or anyone else killed. My mother was waiting outside, rocking in a wooden rocking chair my father had built years ago. I parked, got out of my car, and walked up to the front steps leading to the front porch. I ascended the steps as Mom reached the edge of the porch and we hugged for a few seconds. ‘Gary,’ Mom patted my hair down, or tried to, anyway, ‘Come and sit on the. But you persisted. When I was at the store or watching TV alone, I shift my gaze and suddenly see you there… and I always smiled. Even when my parents talked about how much you were going to destroy my life, I’d still smile. I knew it wasn’t true. You would have only made my life better. In the short time I did know you, you completely changed me. I could only imagine who I would have become had we been able to live the life we deserved. My grandma always said, ‘God gives us just enough — never.