I once read that the secret to happiness is having something to do, something to look forward to, and someone to love. It must be true even if the love is contractual. The next morning was the first time in a long time that I woke happy. I followed my usual routine of shower, hair, health shake, then, looking at myself in the mirror, I took extra time for my makeup. I used to be good at makeup, but that was before I stopped caring. You don’t take care of things you don’t value.

I was a few minutes late to work, but, considering all the late evenings and unpaid overtime I’d pulled over the years, I wasn’t worried.

“You’re late,” Zoey said as I walked into the office. She was applying mascara.

“I know,” I said simply.

Around ten o’clock we were having staff meeting when the bell on our door rang. “I’ll get it,” Zoey said, standing. She was always the first to offer. She hated meetings.

Five minutes later, when Zoey hadn’t returned, Mark said, “Elise, would you please remind Zoey that we’re in the middle of a staff meeting?”

“Sure,” I said. I walked out into the front lobby. Zoey was just standing there in a room filled with flowers. “The man’s smitten,” she said, shaking her head in disbelief. “It took two deliverymen to bring them all in.”

There were twelve dozen roses, half white, half red. If Nicholas was making a point about sending me whatever he wanted, he’d succeeded. A minute later Cathy walked out. “Holy florist. We’re going to have to start charging this guy rent.” She looked at me. “What are you going to do with all those?”

“I have no idea,” I said.

“The delivery people said they’d be back to take them to your apartment,” Zoey said. “Here’s the card that came with them.”

I unsealed the envelope.

Day 4. Next time you complain that I’m spending too much I’m doubling it. Looking forward to tonight.

—Nicholas

I smiled.

“What did he say?” Zoey asked.

“He’s looking forward to our date tonight.”

“Where are you going?”

“We’re going to watch a play. A Christmas Carol.”

“That sounds . . . fun.” I knew that a play wouldn’t be her idea of a good time. She looked at me for a moment, then said, “You know what the problem with all this is?”

I looked at her. “No. What?”

“No one can keep this up forever. Someday it’s going to stop. And then it’s going to suck.”

“It’s most certainly going to stop,” I said. “The trick is to enjoy the ride while it lasts.”

Zoey looked at me with surprise. “When did you get this attitude?” Then she looked closer at me. “Are you wearing eyeliner?”