She thought of the security system her sister had recently purchased for the house. Karoline and Terrance could see anyone who came to their door via an app on their smartphones. She couldn’t let Tobias come over, not unless she wanted her sister and brother-in-law to know he was there. Where do you live?

Honey Hollow Tangerine Orchard—about ten minutes outside town.

Are you there now?

I am. Come over whenever you’d like.

Should she do it?

Why not? If she didn’t, she’d just continue to mope and think about the disaster her marriage had become. Hanging out with a new friend had to be better than wallowing in self-pity.

Are you hungry? I could bring a pizza or Chinese takeout, she wrote.

Chinese sounds good.

She asked what kind of Chinese food he liked and ordered it before going to wash her face and change her clothes. She was almost ready to leave when her phone rang. For the first time in ages, she wasn’t hoping and praying it was Axel.

She considered that a small victory right there.

It wasn’t Axel, anyway; it was her sister.

“Are you okay?” Karoline asked as soon as she answered.

“I’m fine. You guys having fun?”

“We got a hotel with an indoor pool. We’re about to head down and enjoy the water.”

“Sounds great.” Harper considered telling her sister that she was going to have dinner with the guy who’d given her the rose but decided not to. It was no big deal—so why mention it? “I think I’ll do some Christmas shopping while you’re gone.”

“That’s a good idea. Remember, just because changes are difficult in the beginning doesn’t mean they won’t turn out to be the best thing in the end. As much as you love Axel, if he can’t love you back enough to focus on you and fulfill you, what have you really got? I watched you try to keep him steady and happy for so long. I bet one day you’ll be relieved that his mood swings are no longer your problem.”

“It wasn’t like that in the beginning,” Harper said.

“He’s always been sensitive, temperamental and high-strung.”

“As well as larger-than-life, ultra-creative, dynamic and just plain fun.”

“I’m not saying he’s all bad. Until he broke your heart, I liked him a lot. But look at how he made you feel when you were around him—as though his happiness was somehow your responsibility. As far as I’m concerned, he sucked up all the sunlight and left you to try to flourish with what was left.”

“He didn’t intend to do that,” Harper argued.

“Doesn’t matter. That was the reality.”

She drew a deep breath. “Maybe that’s true, to a point.”

“It is. One day you’ll see it, too.”

“I hope so. Anyway, give the girls my love.”