After the interview, I continued talking with the reporter for quite a while until Ethan, who had returned at some point, walked up behind me and patted my shoulder.

Turning around, I saw him holding a bouquet of fresh flowers.

"Is it over, Hailey?" he asked gently.

I took the flowers, feeling a surge of sweetness in my heart. Since Ethan came into my life, I had received more flowers than in the past twenty-eight years combined. "Thank you, Ethan."

The ...