Her dad killed himself when she was a senior in high school.  He wasn't happy so he purposely ingested a lethal amount of drugs.  She was valedictorian in a large school, a tremendously smart young lady.  After taking a few days off she returned to school and went to the office.  The lady behind the counter, Janet, inquired why she had been absent.  She told Janet that her dad had died.  Janet, supposedly wearing an expression of doubt, told the young lady that she needed to see a copy of her dad's death certificate to validate the unexcused absences.  This upset the teenager very much and soon afterwards the child's mother came to the school and had a meeting with administration stating how inappropriate it was for Janet to say that to a kid.

The girl graduated high school and moved away to take advantage of a full academic scholarship to an ivy league college.  Each summer she returned home to her mother and worked in a shoe store in the local mall.

My nephew is 21.  Growing up Nephew's mom and dad were very good friends with Janet (office lady) and her husband.  (Please take particular note of that fact as it comes into play soon enough.)  Nephew is outrageously bright as well.  He had a perfect score on his SAT and was offered a full academic scholarship to Duke.  He didn't take it because he was also an okay athlete and chose to go to a lesser school to play ball.  He also returned home in the summers to work in a shoe store in the local mall.

This summer Nephew and his family were over for dinner.  Chatting with Nephew I asked him if he has a girl friend.  He said yes.  So I asked him how long he had been dating her and he said since the previous summer when he met her at work at the shoe store.  WHAT!  I was surprised that he had been dating someone for so long and I was just hearing about it.  So I asked his mom and dad if they liked her and they said they had never met her.  WHAT!  So I asked why.  Nephew explained that it's been a long distance relationship since they go to college in different states and only see each other in the summer (while working at the shoe store).  Okay, I'll buy that.  But what about while they're home all summer.  Why hasn't he brought her home to meet everyone then?

"Because she's shy."

Ut oh!  That sounds odd.  Dating for more than a year and he hasn't brought her home.  Something's wrong.  He assured me that she's smart, cool, and pretty.  Okay.  Whatever.  I dropped it.

Last night there was a large party for Nephew's dad's 50th birthday.  Nephew called and said his girlfriend will be there.  Wow!  I was very glad to finally get to meet her! 

However when we got to the party my sister-in-law met us as we were walking up and told us the girlfriend wasn't doing well because Janet was at the party and for the girlfriend seeing Janet had brought all those old painful memories flooding back.  She and Nephew were alone in Nephew's bedroom and we were to go in there and meet her.  (They did tell us that she was looking forward to meeting my husband and myself most since my Nephew talks fondly and often of us.  Aww!) 

So we went to Nephew's room and met her.  She was VERY pretty.  She was also VERY nervous.  She stayed in his room most of the party.  She came out and sat around the firepit with us after most of the people had left.  Around the pit she was quiet, but very likeable.

I just love my Nephew and want the best for him.  His mom and dad seem to think this girlfriend will be his last and that he'll wind up marrying her in a few years.  He's crazy about her in a way he's never been with any other girl.

Hmm.  So far there's been few red flags.  Freaking out upon seeing Janet.  Staying in the bedroom.  Waiting over a year to even come aroun family.  Her father had emotional issues.  Flags indeed.   But I guess flags are easily lowered with the right love and attention.   We'll see.

We'll all be together at Thanksgiving so hopefully I'll get to know her better then.  Oh, and I'll try to get pics of Nephew and his girlfriend to post.