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children right away, did I want that, too? Of course, I did. I still missed Mildred, and I think I believed children of my own would fill that little missing piece of my life. I think he was trying to prove something to himself, too. That he could be a husband and a father. Only he couldn't, and your great uncle brought me the pictures to prove it."
    "He was cheating on you," I said.
    "Yes. More than once, and all with older men."
    I'd seen it before, of course. Both Milton and I had been hit on at Casanova's by married men who couldn't or wouldn't admit to themselves who they really were.
    "Older men," Milton said, frowning. "You don't think he ever... with Great Uncle Sherman?"
    His mother shook her head. "If that happened, your great uncle never spoke of it. He insisted that we divorce, and I was too devastated to argue. I went back to live in his house, and that's where I stayed until I met your father, Milton. This time when I told my uncle I wanted to marry, he gave us his blessing."
    Milton leaned back in the couch. "Now it all makes sense," he said. "Why he was no adamant that no gays have ever been a part of our family."
    "But he's got to realize that's just one man," I said. "He can't actually paint us all with the same brush, can he? You don't." Considering all she'd just told us, it was a wonder she didn't.
    "He's gotten more stubborn the older he gets," she said. "I'll keep working on him, but you have to give him time. I'm sorry, Milton. I should have said something to him about you years ago, but I never thought it would come to this."
    She stood up then. We got up off the couch, and Milton walked over to her and hugged her. I couldn't remember the last time I'd seen him hug his mother.
    "I want to be a part of the family, mother," he said. "But I'm not going to give up my life to do it. I'm not going to break up with Chuck."
    "Of course you're not," she said. "Just give it time."
    "That's right," I said. "He's an old man. How long has he got, anyway?"
    Mother and son both looked at me like I was nuts. I smiled at them to let them know I was only joking, and they both laughed.
    At least I knew I was good for two things. Killer lasagna, and making a fool of myself to lighten the mood.
    Oh, and I almost forgot.
    I was really good at one more thing--being the misbehaving, must-be-punished-right-now cabin boy.
    But I didn't think we should tell Milton's mother that.
    [?] [?] [?]
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    Clarice's birthday bash was held in a municipal park the last Sunday in June. I was surprised that the park was available, given that June was a prime month for outdoor weddings, but Ted told me his mother-in-law had booked the park a year in advance.
    The entire Grosbeck clan attended the party, including Great Uncle Sherman, Milton, and me. I managed to keep my oddball sense of humor in check, although I did wear my cream-colored pants, white polo shirt, white shoes, and white socks for the occasion just so I could give Great Uncle Sherman a look at the entire ensemble.
    Milton's great uncle still wouldn't shake my hand--or Milton's, for that matter--but he didn't order us out of the park or call my boyfriend any hurtful names. Like Mrs. Grosbeck told us, it would just take time. At least we were all together.
    I caught Milton's mother giving us a wistful look while Milton and I sat next to each other, hand in hand, listening to Roy tell a fascinating story about the one and only time he caught a touchdown pass in college. Roy, I should tell you, played defense, and the touchdown pass was an interception. Considering that Roy weighed a good two hundred and fifty pounds, the image of him returning a sixty yard interception was funny enough even without his hilarious embellishments.
    When I caught Mrs. Grosbeck's eye, she nodded at me and mouthed thank you . I nodded back. She was a strong woman, even if she did have a thing about dirt. Although she might be working on over-coming that as well. I mean, it wasn't not like