The streetlight cast a glow on the mailbox. Snow blowing against her, Elizabeth pulled her coat tighter around her and ran. She opened the mailbox door, reached in, felt around, and pulled out a long-stemmed red rose.

A chill went down her spine, and not from being cold. She stared at the rose and flashed back to a long-stemmed red rose in a Coke bottle. That’s how Pete had shown he loved her. Until he didn’t.

She wiped away a tear, and questioningly held up the rose to Melanie.

Melanie smiled, waved and drove off.

“What is she…” Elizabeth muttered, then turned back to the mailbox. The door to Erik’s apartment swung open. He stood there, looking at her through the falling snow.

Her feet carried her up to him as if moving of their own volition. Erik drew her in like a magnet.

Her voice shaky, she said, “Take me back, Erik. Please. I love you.”

“You stole my line, “Erik said. He swooped her up in his arms and kicked the door shut.

Getting back together purposely left out. Much has happened up to this 300-page mark.

Elizabeth snuggled closer. “I think it took you leaving me to realize how much I love you. But, I have to ask…why the rose?”

“It’s my way of telling you I love you. It’s also a promise that I’ll never leave you, no matter what.”

Was Elizabeth ready to associate a single red rose with love and devotion, instead of heartache and abandonment? After a life of men leaving her, Elizabeth didn’t know if she could take that leap. She wanted to so badly. But, something inside her held her back.