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"Oh. I had a date here and there, or what you would roughly call a date. I guess, meeting someone at a dance or at the movies, but nothing ever became anything. Peter was seeing lots of women, but he was too free a soul to give any woman the sense she'd be important enough to be his wife forever and ever. He liked what he called 'playing the field.'

"There were many nights when he and Grandad went at it. Grandad ridiculing and criticizing Peter's lifestyle, even calling him sinful and warning him that God would not look kindly on him."

"I'm Sure he believes Uncle Peter's death was because of that, doesn't he?" I asked quickly.

Daddy looked away,

"Maybe."

After a moment, he turned back to me.

"Anyway, it was clear that the obligation to bring a woman into our lives fell on my shoulders.'" He paused and tossed a pebble into the lake.

"You know your mother came here when she was only just nineteen."

"With her aunt, yes," I said.

"Well. Grandad was impatient with my failure to just go out and find a wife, so he contacted Mommy's aunt Ethel, who brought your mother to America to marry me."

"What are you saying, Daddy? You mean, she knew she was coming here to marry you, even though she had never seen you before?"

He nodded.

"And Grandad arranged it?"

"Yes."

"But why would Mommy do that?"

"Things were hard for her where she lived in Russia, and this was an opportunity to escape it."

He laughed.

"I'll never forget the way we were introduced. Your grandad said, 'Here's your wife. The wedding will be tomorrow.'"

"But why did you do it? I mean. I know Mommy is very pretty and all, but she was still a stranger. How can you many someone without knowing anything about her?"

"When I first saw your mother that day, I actually felt sorrier for her than I had been feeling for myself. No one looked more helpless, more lost, more terrified of tomorrow. I couldn't even utter the word no.

"And then I looked into her eyes, past the fear, past the terror. and I saw something that warmed my heart. I don't know if that qualifies as love at first sight, but I thought I could make her feel good. and I hoped she could do the same for me.

"In time, we grew closer and closer. Maybe we didn't have the sort of romantic start people see in movies and read in books, but what we have is strong. We've become tied to each other in deep ways. I don't think she could stop herself from loving me any more than I could stop myself from loving her.

"If that could happen to me, it will surely happen to you. Honey. Don't worry about it. Love will

find its way into your heart, and it will be more comfortable there because of what your uncle Peter gave you and taught you."

"I hope so. Daddy."

"I know so," he said. He smiled at me and stood up. "'How about you come home and practice that violin?"

"Okay, Daddy," I said. and rose. He reached for my hand.

"Look at you," he said. "with calluses on your palms from your farm chores. I bet that alone scares away most of the boys today. You're too tough for them."

I laughed.

"I haven't held hands with any lately," I said.