“They’re tremendously fun. And do you love him?”

“I must, or why would I have come back? He’s serious and sincere and successful. He’s noble and he does good deeds.” I paused, wondering why I didn’t feel more enthusiastic. “I’m sure I’ll find that we’re perfectly compatible in every way.”

“You mean you haven’t—”

“That’s none of your business, and no doubt when we did before, it was amazing,” I said, but I thought uneasily of the silver penknife.

As if he could read my mind, Ian said, “Even though he’s a vampire and will want to drink your blood? You would let him cut you and taste you?”

“Oswald’s a good man, an admirable man, and I’ll do what’s necessary to make the relationship work,” I said. “I’ll do better this time. I won’t make the same mistakes. I won’t take risks and be silly and needy and let people interfere with my relationship.”

“Milagro, you need not explain.”

“I don’t know why I’m telling you this,” I said, and pivoted to face Ian. “Even though I can’t remember, I know my behavior has caused others to be hurt. To die. So I’ll marry Oswald and be happy here, instead of rushing into situations and getting diverted by parties, and by any random fabulous man who comes my way, a man who makes my pulse race and my temperature rise, a man like you …”

“Milagro,” Ian began, and I knew that if I stayed with him one more second, I would do something unforgivable. Then I heard Oswald’s voice calling across the field, “Milagro!”

I quickly stood. “I have to go.”

Ian put his hand on my arm and said, “Wait,” and I stopped to face him.

“We’re staying at the hotel in town and we’ll be leaving tomorrow morning,” he said. “I wanted to say good-bye. Good-bye and I wish with all my heart that you’ll have the happiness you deserve.”

“Do you have a heart, Ian?”

“Yes, damaged and in anguish, but beating still.”

As I stared into Ian’s brown eyes, I panicked because I felt as if I was losing something essential and precious. Nameless feelings rose in me, like a drowning swimmer fighting toward light and the surface. “Won’t we meet again, Ian?”

“It’s best if we don’t. Good-bye, my own girl.”

My eyes welled and I swiped them away clumsily with my horrible gloves. “Good-bye, Ian,” I said, and then I ran across the field.

Oswald was in the lane and when I saw him, he came to me and said, “Where were you?”

I blinked away my tears. “Visiting Daisy’s grave. It made me sad. I’m going in now.”