"So, what about you?"


    "Heh... I''ve got my eye on the younger Rodriguez daughter! Word is, she''s gorgeous, amazing figure, and-most importantly-her grandparents adore her. If I could catch her attention, I''d save myself at least ten years of hard work!"


    "Dream on, man. That''s the Rodriguez family we''re talking about! You? You don''t even have an invitation. Stop daydreaming."


    "If I''m not worthy, are you?"


    "As a matter of fact, I am."


    ...


    Cliff drained thest of his wine, set the ss down, and let his gaze linger on the gold-embossed invitation lying on the coffee table.


    "The Rodriguez family sure knows how to put on a show... Let''s see what fireworks they have in store."


    This time, the Cliffords, the Sherwoods, and the Gibsons were all invited.


    Cliff, Murray, and York hadn''t been all that interested at first. Buttely, rumors about the Rodriguez family had been spreading like wildfire each more outrageous than thest.


    Some said Ms. Aberdeen had gone missing and was sold off to some remote vige, married off against her will, only to be cast outter for giving birth to a daughter. Others swore Ms. Aberdeen was as beautiful as an angel, and that her daughter was just as stunning-though, apparently, a little slow in the head.


    The rumors kept swirling, but not a single photo ever surfaced.


    Of course, the more mysterious things became, the more everyone wanted to know.


    Cliff couldn''t help but get curious. "If I''m right, the birthday g''s tomorrow. You two going?"


    Murray said, "Depends."


    York shrugged. “Not sure."


    "Seriously, what''s up with you guys? Did you turn into monks or something? No fun, no curiosity?"


    York spread his hands and grinned. "Hey, I''ve got a girlfriend now. I''ll leave you two bachelors to make fools of yourselves-especially you, Cliff. Try not to get your hopes up."


    "Aren''t we supposed to be ying cards? Are you in or not?" Murray cut in, sounding impatient.


    Truth was nothing interested Murray these days except Roseanne. The only reason he''d even show up at Neely''s birthday tomorrow was out of obligation-a quick appearance, then gone.


    Cliff straightened up. "Deal me in. What are we betting?"


    "You tell us."


    Before Cliff could answer, York


    chimed in with a sly smile, "Losen et


    has to go ask the Rodriguez


    aver:


    granddaughter for her number at the g tomorrow. How about that?”


    Cliff and Murray exchanged nces.


    Cliff arched an eyebrow. "I''m game. Up to you, Murray."


    Murray couldn''t have cared less. "Fine by me."


    The next day, the birthday g was in full swing, drawing the city''s most prominent guests.


    Roseanne wore a pale blue, strapless evening gown with a cutout at the waist, entuating her slender figure.


    Madge looked every bit the part of a matriarch in an elegant dress, her hair pinned up neatly at the back, poised and graceful.


    As for Norris-


    There was no way the olddy would have forgotten him. A week earlier, she''d hired a team of tailors to custom-fit a suit just for him.


    Today, dressed to the nines with a perfectly knotted tie, Norris looked every inch the refined gentleman.


    Standing shoulder to shoulder with Madge, they were the picture of sophistication.


    "Is everyone ready?” The elderly couple entered the room, pausing when they saw their daughter, son-inw, and granddaughter together-each one striking in their own right.


    For a moment, the grandparents were speechless, a wave of pride and a tinge


    of regret washing over them.


    After all these years, they had missed so much of their daughter''s life...


    But today, they would make things right. Today, they''d finally give her the ce in


    the family she deserved-along with her husband and daughter.