FORTY-NINE

NORA BURST into the office, her eyes flashing with frustration. She stood in the doorway, hands on her hips, staring at her father with a mixture of disbelief and indignation.

"Dad!" she exclaimed as she closed the distance to his table. "Are you really going to let Doris go on a date with that guy?" Her voice was high-pitched and trembling with emotion. "Aren't you even going to try to talk her out of it?"

Brad looked up from his desk, taking in the sight of his upset daughter. She looked so frustrated that she was close to tears.

He couldn't help but blame Doris and her elusive beau for his current predicament.

Just a few days ago, he'd met the man in question and Doris had made the introductions with an irritating sense of ease. For the first time in many years, he'd been left speechless.

Every time he thought about it, his mind would spin in circles. And the more he thought about it, the angrier he became

He was still trying to make sense of why Daniel ha