“You know how I feel about you, Sara,” he said as he withdrew a single red rose and handed it to her. “I’m hoping you feel the same.” He reached into the basket again. This time, he pulled out a small, black velvet box. “I love you.” He lifted the lid, revealing a large diamond set in a platinum band. “Will you marry me, Sara?”
She stared at him. Not long ago, she had told herself she might as well marry Dil and settle down. What difference did it make, now that Travis was gone?
“Sara?”
“Dil, I …” She shook her head. “I love you, but I’m not in love with, not in the way you deserve. I didn’t mean to lead you on.”
He closed the box with a snap. “Still in love with that other guy?”
“Yes.” Even as she said it, she wondered if she was making a horrible mistake. She would probably never see Travis again. Did she want to spend the rest of her life alone? She could be content with Dil. They got along well. They could have a comfortable life together. Their parents were good friends. But even as she considered accepting, she knew it would be a mistake. Dil deserved a wife who loved him the way she loved Travis. And that would never be her. “I’m sorry.”
“Good thing I didn’t follow your mom’s advice and ask you at the dance tonight,” he said, forcing a wan smile. “At least this way no will ever know you turned me down.”
Sara nodded.
“So, who is this guy you’re so crazy about?”
“I met him in Susandale.”
“Is he in love with you, too?”
“I think so.”
“You think so? Well, dang, maybe there’s still hope for me.”
“I’ll always love you, Dil. But only as a friend.”
“I guess I’ll have to live with that,” he said, glumly. “But I won’t like it. And I won’t give up hope.”
Leaning forward, Sara kissed him on the cheek. “I hope you find a wonderful girl who’ll love you as you deserve.”
“Yeah, me, too. I mean, I’m a pretty good catch.”
“Yes, you are,” she said, grateful that he was taking her refusal so well. “Did you pack any food in that basket?”
If Sara had thought it was hard refusing Dil’s proposal, it was even harder to tell her parents about it before the dance that night.
Donna Winters stared at her daughter as if she couldn’t believe her ears. “But why? Why would you say no?”
George Winters shook his head, obviously disappointed. “I trust you have a good reason.”
“The best there is. I’m not in love with him. Dil understands. Why can’t you?”
“We just always expected the two of you to marry,” her mother said. “But of course your happiness is what matters.”
Sara nodded, thinking it was too bad her mother’s tone didn’t match her words.
“You’d best go get ready,” her father said. “We don’t want to be late.”
The last thing Sara wanted to do was go to another dance at the country club. Dil would be there, as would all of their friends. At least she knew Dil hadn’t told anyone of his plans to propose. Going to the club would have been unbearable if everyone knew.
She dressed with care. Tonight, she would be the perfect daughter. She would would speak to all of her parents’ friends, dance with old Mr. Blumberg, laugh at Mr.
Bowers’ jokes, listen to Aunt Dorothy’s endless stories about her Siamese cat, Tigger.
Pasting a smile on her face, Sara went downstairs, determined to be in a good mood and have a good time. Determined not to waiver from the decision she had made that morning.
Travis stood in the shadows outside the country club. Although the building was packed with people, he had no trouble locating Sara or reading her thoughts. She was biding her time until the dance was over, trying to find an easy way to tell her parents she was leaving home.
Filled with a need to see her, he willed himself to a men’s shop and helped himself to a change of clothes—black trousers, white shirt, black jacket, black tie, black shoes.
Five minutes later, he slipped through the kitchen door of the country club and made his way up a winding staircase to the second floor.
He spied Sara dancing with an elderly gent. She looked lovely in a gauzy, pale- blue dress. Unlike most of the women, she wore her hair down so that it fell over her shoulders in silken waves. Never had she looked more beautiful.
Moving across the floor, he tapped the elderly man on the shoulder. “Do you mind if I cut in?”
The old man inclined his head as he surrendered the field.
“Travis, what are you doing here?” Sara asked, eyes wide with astonishment as he took her in his arms.
“Dancing with you.”
“How did you get here? How did you find me?”
“How do you think?”
Her lips twitched in a knowing smile. “Oh.”
“I couldn’t stay away any longer,” he said. “I had to make sure you were all right. Just one dance and I’ll go.”
“No! No. Please stay.”
“Does that mean you missed me, too?”
“You have no idea how much. Let’s go some place where we can talk.”
“Whatever you want.”
When the song ended, Sara took his hand and led him to a winding stairway that led to the third floor. French doors opened onto a balcony that overlooked a flower garden. The air was warm, fragrant with the scent of roses and lilacs. Music drifted on the breeze, punctuated by the sound of laughter and the faint hum of conversation from the floor below.
“How have you been?” she asked, stepping out onto the balcony.
“Never better than now, when I’m here with you.”
She smiled as his words sank deep into her heart. “What happened in Susandale after I left?”
“The place is
