It was a beautiful day for the barbeque. It couldn’t have been better. The sun was out and warm. The air was clear and fresh. And every so often, without much notice, there was a gentle breeze. It was cool enough to take the edge of the heat, but not too cool. Just perfect. “Just perfect,” Jessica thought to herself again. She couldn’t have planned it any better. She was so ready for a day of relaxation with friends and family. They had been planning this day for months. Each holding secret concerns that something would go wrong. The weather may be bad or the day just wouldn’t be… perfect.

Jessica piled all the goodies into her car. She had been baking for days! That was her assignment – cookies, cakes and other yummy homemade goods. She was pretty good at baking. It was one of the few things she felt she was good at. She hadn’t seen some family members for years. She knew her sister had a new husband. Actually, it was her sixth new husband. Her sister just couldn’t hold on to a relationship. Unlike Jessica’s bad luck, her sister divorced hers. Jessica lost her first husband in a boating accident. And her second husband perished in a skiing accident. After her second husband’s death, she simply gave up. She enjoyed a wonderful single life filled with friends, family and even a few boyfriends. Speaking of which, she had to be at Howard’s house in less than 10 minutes. She shook herself out of her personal fog and climbed into the full car.

She arrived at Howard’s a few minutes late. Howard was outside stewing. He was not a person that should be kept waiting. “Your late, you know.” “Yes, Howard… I know. I am sorry. It was traffic. A lot of people are getting out to enjoy the day.” “Excuses, Jessica will not improve the situation. A promise that it will never happen again will work!” “But Howard, how am I going to promise you it will never happen again…