This was the former Chapter 11 (the parade, etc.) so if you already read that part, you can skip this and go on to 13.

Chapter 12

She was up early. Despite the fact that they had spent a good bit of time at their lovemaking, he turned over in the morning to find her gone. He peered at the clock. Seven-thirty. She had told him that he had to be up by eight, so that they could get to the parade, which started at nine.

"I'm sorry about that and I know you don't like to get up early, but it will mean a lot to the kids if you go. On Sunday, I promise you can sleep in."

She'd just finished giving him a fantastic blowjob, so he was inclined to go along with anything she asked at that moment. This morning, however, was a different matter. Still, he'd promised and now really wasn't a good time to start breaking promises.

He dragged himself out of bed and headed to her bathroom. After taking care of business, he pulled on jeans and a dark blue t-shirt. He came out of the bedroom and started towards the stairs, when he saw the girl – was it Emma? – coming out of her room.

Better to try to be civil. "Morning." He said.

"Good morning." She said in a quiet voice, avoiding his eyes. Obviously, her mother had taught her to be polite, but she didn't have to be friendly. Okay, he could understand that. The girl bounded down the stairs, leaving him behind to take his time.

When he got to the kitchen, she was talking to her mother and pouring herself a bowl of cereal. Karen looked up from her daughter to smile at him.

"Good morning!" she said brightly, flashing him that great smile of hers.

It made him smile in return. "Good morning." He replied.

"Sit down. Coffee?"

"You know it. Thanks."

He watched her as she pulled out a mug and poured the dark liquid into it. She was wearing white shorts and a red and white boat neck top. Her hair was held back from her face with a bright blue band. She had red, white and blue button earrings in her lobes and a blue bracelet on her wrist. With white tennis shoes, she looked squeaky clean and fresh full of patriotism. Normally he would hate to see this, but on her, it looked right.

What was it about this woman?

Whatever it was, it was responsible an hour later for him sitting in a portable canvas chair on a street in Lancaster county watching as a small town put its best foot forward.

The residents who possessed classic cars drove them slowly along the parade route. He had to admit that some of them were very nice, lovingly restored and polished.

Then the mayor waved to her people from the back seat of a convertible. She was followed by the high school band. Karen excitedly waved and cheered for Daniel, who tried to look as though he didn't see her, even though the pride was there as he marched along with his bass drum.

The band was followed by various community groups marching en masse. One of them was the Girl's Club softball team. Emma was still young enough to be happy to see her mother and she smiled and waved back. One of the other girls stared and whispered to Emma. Her eyes darted to House and she nodded.

Big guess what that was about, he thought.

Then there were small and large floats, the large ones mostly flat beds being pulled by pick-up trucks, while the small ones were wagons built up with some sort of displays. There were kids on bicycles that had been decorated with red, white and blue crepe paper and signs. A few on tricycles as well as some on roller blades and wearing costumes or just dressed in patriotic colors, completed the paraders.

The whole thing was wrapped up with the volunteer fire company showing their shiny trucks.

House breathed a sigh of relief when he saw it come to an end, assuming they could return to her home now. But he was so wrong.

She headed into the high school football field where there was a small podium set up and all the marchers had assembled around it. She helped him find a seat on the bleachers and waited until everyone was in place.

Then the announcer instructed the people to please rise for the national anthem, which everyone did. He was going to remain seated, due to his leg, but he realized he would be the only one. Even a woman who was probably a hundred years old had slowly risen to her feet. He figured he'd better join in.

Everyone put their hands over their hearts and recited the Pledge of Allegiance. Then the band played the "Star Spangled Banner" while the local Boy Scout troop raised the flag. Everyone sang along.

As the last notes of the song were dying in the air, he called out, "Play ball."

Karen looked at him, trying to hide the smile as she whispered, "Shhh."

The mayor got up on the podium and made a short speech about the community and patriotism. Then a minister from a community church got up there and gave a blessing. House rolled his eyes.

"Give me a break. What ever happened to separation of church and state?"

"It doesn't exist in this town." Karen told him.

Then a few other community leaders made some speeches. The announcer got up again and listed the schedule of events for the day. House had a sinking feeling that he would be participating in all of them. Finally, the announcer called out the names of parade participants who had won prizes for their floats, marchers or displays. There seemed to be more prizes than participants, but somehow they all got announced and prizes awarded.

At last, the people in the field started to disperse.

"We can leave now?" House asked.

"We can leave now." Karen said. Her kids ran up to her. Daniel handed her his drum to take home in the car while he went to get a soda with his friends. Emma asked if she could go to her friend's house until the game. Karen nodded her assent and the kids took off.

House thought they'd be able to relax at home, but Karen was busy getting food ready for the afternoon.

"Why are you cooking all that?" he asked as he saw her preparing potato salad and baked beans and marinating chicken in barbecue sauce.

"For this afternoon. We always end up with a bunch of people after the game. Between the kids' friends and some of mine, people will come over. Add to the fact that a lot of them saw you with me today and they will be curious and want to meet you."

"Oh, god!" he groaned. "You didn't tell me I'd have to impress your friends. Just your kids, you said."

"You don't have to impress anyone. I don't need their approval to be with you. Actually, I don't need anyone's."

He felt a little glow in his heart when she said that. "So, fuck 'em?"

"I'd prefer not to, but essentially, yes."

He smiled and stole a piece of potato from the bowl she was mixing her salad in and she swatted his hand.

Which was how he ended up in a lawn chair on a deck in suburbia with a beer in one hand and a hot dog and hamburger on a plate in the other. Surrounded by suburban couples chatting about the latest happenings around town. Those people included Karen's ex-husband.