Father Feenan was hospitalized. A few bruises, but mainly suffering from disorientation so they ran a battery of tests that revealed he was old. The day before we were to all come back together I sat with him alone in his hospital room.

"Father, you ever feel you've made mistakes that you can't rectify?" I said staring at the drip from the IV bottle.

"Son, many. All my moments of living in the past. And yet I continue to do so." He sounded more lucid than I'd ever heard before. "Right now, all I can think of is moments from my childhood, my mother, my father, the cup I drank from when I was ten." Father Feenan's face was paling, but as he continued his voice became strong and knowing. "It's because I've run out of time that I clearly see that that was all that I had, was time. That was my gift form God."

"But Father..." His eyes closed, his breath stopped, and he smiled. "Father...?"

*****

We returned to LA the next day. I was back at Haven House with Donna by my side. She felt bad about Father Feenan but she wanted to go on with the wedding without question. My father and Dr. Mince agreed, so I did too. I couldn't remember the last time I had made a decision. Not only did I not want to make a decision, I didn't know how. So when my father brought up the bachelor party, I couldn't say no. I couldn't say yes either, but the truth was that was the last thing I wanted or needed.

"You need a bachelor party, that's what you need. And that is the best man's responsibility, right?" My father sat in the chair in my room as I reclined on the bed.

"Dad...?"

"Yeah, it'll be great. The works, nothing is too good for my son."

What could I say?

"Come on!"

"All right." I mumbled. He raised his fists and headed out the door presumably to plan. It was right then that I got a pang, a big pang. What if it didn't work out? I mean with Donna. When would be the best time to...to...if I'm thinking of ending it, I should end it now, before I get married.

Donna miraculously walked in . It was fate telling me to break it off.

She stood at the end of my bed and raised her arms. "Well, it's all done. I can't believe it. This has been about the best time in my life. Maybe I should change my career to party planner. What do you think?"

"Sounds good."

"And guess what?"

"Do I have to?"

She pushed at my shoulder, "Oh you." Her flirting went unrecognized, but I smiled and that satisfied her and she continued, "My parents paid for most of it."

"Paid?" I asked.

"Yeah, everything is paid for." She jumped up and ran out saying she forgot to make a call.

My heart sunk and I remembered my own dad. He wanted to be my best man.