It surprised me when she basically pulled me onto the back porch. I had been enjoying the discussion and the loving warmth of her family, even toward a complete stranger like me. I almost laughed at her expression, as we sat out on the porch, sipping our coffee. She looked like a nervous school girl, waiting for a teachers pronouncement.

"Stop worrying, your family was lovely and not nearly as bad as you feared. I learned much that will be of use to me, I swear. Besides that, coming from a tiny family, it is fun to be a part of a larger clan, even if it is just for the night." The truth was that I could tell how much they all loved each other and valued their ancestors and traditions. It was a family generations in the making.

I kicked at swinging feet with mine. "Now tell me the truth. How many times have you brought a boyfriend for a quiet meal, to meet your family, only to have your mother pull this on them and scare the off?" I found that I was in a good mood now. I had an entertaining evening, a good meal and now I was sitting in the moonlight, drinking coffee with a gorgeous gal. What could have been better than that.

I knew my own track record with relationships was horrible. Most of the women I had dated had left me because they felt neglected. I had to travel all over for my work, leaving them in the lurch on holidays and other important dates. One of them, Meredith, had told me I would die a lonely old man, still traveling the globe, but not seeing the wonders of my own back yard. It was probably true back then. Traveling and photography, the thrill of discovering the perfect shot, was more important to me than the love of any one woman. A few of my relationships had lasted a few months, and one had lasted for half a year, but in the end they all ended the same way.