Chapter 2

I looked at him, and for the first time in seven years, he felt like a stranger.

"She showed up at my door, telling me you two are getting engaged tomorrow. And you want me to apologize to her?" I asked.

Simon said, "She didn't mean any harm."

I let out a small laugh. "I do."

Simon had been swamped these past few days.

He was so caught up in work that he forgot my birthday.

Whenever he forgot before, I'd start dropping hints a week early, send him cake shop photos, and stay up until midnight to hear him wish me a happy birthday.

But this year, I didn't bother with any of that.

That evening, it was as if he suddenly remembered and called me.

Simon said, "Let's go see a dance drama tonight. I got us tickets. You've always wanted to watch 'Lights of Main Street,' right?"

That show was almost impossible to get tickets for. I'd asked friends to help me out a few times, but never managed to get a spot.

I agreed.

I waited outside the theater for an hour, rain streaming down the steps. The security guard had already told me three times not to block the entrance.

Simon never showed up.

But before I heard from him, Marissa's update showed up on my feed.

In the photo, two tickets were laid out side by side, the stubs showing they were front-row seats.

Her caption read: [It's such a blessing when someone drops everything to watch a show with you.]

I called Simon.

No one picked up the first time.

The second time, Marissa answered, "Ms. Winters, Simon is helping me get my shawl, so he can't come to the phone right now. Is it something urgent?"

"Put him on the phone," I said.

Her voice went all soft. "It's my first time seeing a dance drama, and I'm a little nervous about the crowd. Simon said he'd stay with me until the end. Hope you don't mind?"

I stared at the old ticket stub in my hand, rain-soaked. "Put him on the phone."

I heard Simon's voice on the other end.

"Marissa, don't stand in the wind," he said.

Then he took the phone.

"Lily, where are you?" he asked.

"At the theater entrance," I replied.

He paused for a moment.

"Marissa is having a rough day, so I had to stay with her at the last minute. I'll make it up to you and get tickets for you another day," he said.

"Do you know what day it is?" I asked.

"Don't start, I really can't get away right now," Simon said.

"Simon, today is my birthday," I said.

There was a brief silence on the other end.

Marissa whispered, "Simon, maybe you should go be with Ms. Winters. I'll be fine on my own."

Simon immediately replied, "You said you were feeling dizzy. Don't try to tough it out."

Then he lowered his voice and said to me, "It's a birthday. It happens every year. But if something happens to Marissa tonight, I wouldn't know how to explain it to her parents."

I hung up.

As the ushers started letting people in, my reflection stared back at me from the glass doors. My skirt was soaked, clinging to my legs like a cold, damp cloth.

Someone handed me an umbrella.

I looked up and saw Joel Reed, the theater manager. He used to be a head waiter at a restaurant, and I'd once helped his mother out.

"Ms. Winters, why are you standing out here in the rain?" Joel asked.

"Waiting for someone," I replied.

He glanced at the ticket stub in my hand, his brows furrowing. "You're here for this show? I can have someone get you a seat."

"No, thanks," I replied.

"But the people behind the show are here tonight. Last time, you said you really liked how they changed the ending," Joel said.

I looked at him. "How do you know I said that?"

Joel tilted the umbrella closer to me, as if he realized he'd said too much and quickly changed the subject.

"I heard it from a friend," he said.

I didn't press him.

Suddenly, someone called out in the lobby. "Mr. Grant and Ms. Hughes are here."

Simon walked in, helping Marissa. She was wearing his coat, with a small pearl brooch fastened to her dress.

That brooch was the one I gave to Simon's mother last year.

Simon saw me, and his expression shifted.

"You're still here?" he said.

Marissa grabbed his sleeve. "Ms. Winters, please don't misunderstand. Simon's mom lent me this brooch. She thought it would match my dress tonight."

I asked Simon, "Did your mom give it to her?"

Simon looked away from me. "It's a brooch. Don't make a fuss out here."

Joel spoke up, "Mr. Grant. Ms. Winters has been waiting for you in the rain for an hour."

Simon turned to him. "And you are?"

Joel didn't back down. "I'm with the theater staff."

Marissa said softly, "Ms. Winters. Simon's already exhausted. If you're upset, you can talk to him when you get home. No need to make a scene in front of everyone."

Simon said, "Go home and wait for me."

I tore the wet ticket in half and slipped it into his coat pocket.

"Enjoy the show," I said.

As I turned to leave, I heard Marissa say, "Simon, is she mad? It's all my fault."

Simon replied, "Just ignore her. She's got a short fuse, but she'll cool off in a couple of days."