And then he was gone.

We’d both known it was coming, but his actual departure was even more abrupt than I’d imagined. He got a call. His assignment had come through. And within ten hours he was on a plane. Flying to the other side of the world. Away from me.

Before he left, he asked me to stay in his house. So that I could continue to work until it was sold. So that I could take care of Lulu. So that I could make sure everything looked right when potential buyers came by.

In a way, it was good that I was staying at his house now. Yes, every inch of it reminded me of him, but it also meant I could be by myself. To think. To remember. To cry. And, of course, to work. Sending samples to publishers and agents. Trying to drum up some online support.

Mostly, I kept to myself though I carried Lulu up the stairs each evening so that she could sleep next to me on the bed. And every time I cried, she’d whine in sympathy and nuzzle her little nose against me.

When Trish brought people by to see the house, I cleared out, going to visit my parents or running an errand. When I did see potential buyers, I faked a cheerfulness I didn’t feel. Most of them were couples, looking for their first house together. That’s what I wanted. And maybe someday I’d get it, but not with Xander.

At the end of August, I had lunch with my parents while Trish hosted an open house next door. I didn’t return until all the unfamiliar cars had left. I found Trish in the kitchen, her heels off as she sat at the table.

I poured her some ice tea. “Any luck?”

“There’s one couple who’s been by a few times. I think they might make an offer soon.”

“That’s good.” I put out some cookies.

She took one and thanked me. “Have you thought about what you’re going to do once the house sells?”

“Yeah, I’ll just move back in with my parents.”

She gave me a gentle smile. “You don’t sound too enthusiastic about it.”

“I’m not.”

“What are you going to do about Lulu?”

I sank down into a chair across from Trish. “I don’t know,” I said. “Are you sure you can’t take her?”

Trish reached across the table and patted my arm. “I wish I could, but I’m away for most of the day. She’d be miserable cooped up and alone for such long stretches. And I’m on the third floor. The stairs would be really hard for her. I’m sorry, but I just can’t.”

We’d been over this before, but I’d hoped she would change her mind. She was good to Lulu, and Lulu liked her.

“What about you finding your own place? You don’t have to buy, there are a lot of rental units available. Some take dogs.”

“I wish I could, but I’m not making any money right now. I have to stay with my parents until the book gets picked up or until I find a job.”

“I understand.”

Trish asked if I wanted to go out for a drink, but I declined. Though she didn’t say it directly, I knew that she was hoping to meet men when she went out. I’d already met the man I wanted. The fact that he wasn’t here didn’t change how I felt about him.

In the middle of September, I’d just gotten off the phone with an agent I’d sent my book to when Trish called.

“I have good news,” she said. “I’ve sold the house!”

“Congratulations!” I said automatically. She’d worked hard and she deserved her commission. She couldn’t know that I’d been dreading hearing this news.

Trish laughed. “That’s not the good news. I mean, it’s good news for me, but I know it’s not for you. The good news is that I changed my mind.”

“About what?”

“About your weird little dog. I’ll take Lulu, and you’re welcome to come visit her anytime.”

“You will? Thank you so much!” I’d just about decided to put an ad on Craigslist to try to find Lulu a new home. Though I’d miss Lulu, I was really glad I didn’t have to give her to a stranger.

“Anyway, I wanted to let you know before you found another home for her.”

“Thank you so much.” I blinked back tears. Lulu had been such a comfort lately. The thought of her exiting my life as abruptly as Xander had was upsetting.

“Oh, and the buyers are coming by Friday night to take one last look around. Probably around seven.”

“No problem. I’ll clear out.”

“No, they want to talk to you. To ask about the recent repairs to the house.”

“Xander knows about that, not me.”

“But you were there. You know what work was done.”

“Yeah.”

Trish was silent for a minute. “Have you heard from him?”

“Not in a while. He’s been busy, and he can’t always get access to the internet or a phone signal.”

“Well… I’m sure he’s thinking about you.”

I was less sure, but for her sake, I didn’t say so.

“See you Friday,” she said, and I hung up.

* * *

Friday evening, I set out some flowers, lovely roses from Mrs. Craig’s garden. My mom had made sugar cookies, so I arranged them on the platter Mrs. Craig had always used for special occasions. This house had so many memories even for me, and I’d only lived next door to it. I hoped that the new owners loved it as much as my former neighbor had.

The house was cool enough even though the evening was still warm. Hoping to make the place more marketable, Xander had hired someone to install central air-conditioning. I’d cleared out for a few days in August while they worked.

The result was that now the place got so cool that I took to wearing sweaters. It was a far cry from the skimpy outfits I’d worn when Xander had been around. Tonight I had on a short-sleeved vee neck dress in light pink.

Lulu was shivering, so I turned the air off for a while. I wanted to keep the little dog by my side as long as I could, but soon I’d have to move back home. So neither of us was going to spend much more time in this house though Lulu didn’t know that. She was probably happier not knowing.

At seven, Trish called and said the buyers were running a few minutes late. I put Lulu out back and sat on the sofa and waited. Waited and tried not to hate the people who were buying the place. They were entitled to their dreams, too. Just because mine hadn’t worked out didn’t mean that theirs shouldn’t.

For some reason, I imagined them to be young. Maybe newlyweds. People who would have children and raise them here just like Mrs. Craig did. Just like I wished I could.

There were footsteps on the porch and then the doorbell rang. I closed my eyes and took a deep breath. I could do this. I could be pleasant. I owed it to Mrs. Craig. She’d loved this house—and now someone else would, too.

Opening my eyes, I took one last look around. The living room was immaculate. Everything was ready. All that was left to do was to open the door.

And so I did.

And promptly forgot how to breathe.

Because he was here. Xander. Right here. Right now. Standing in front of me.

How? I’d thought he was on the other side of the world. And why? Had he come to meet the new owners?

“Wha—”

That’s all I managed to say, but he responded anyway. “I’m the new owner. And the old owner. I’m not selling the house.”

I blinked at him, not taking it in. Maybe this was a dream, and I’d fallen asleep on the couch waiting for the real buyers to arrive. But if it was a dream, my mind had filled in a lot of details. He was wearing a white button-down shirt and black slacks. No tie—the top few buttons were undone. And he had a navy suitcase behind him.

Xander grinned. “So, since this is still my house… can I come in?”

After a long pause, I stepped back. He picked up his suitcase and walked into the living room. Taking my hand, he led me over to the couch. “Would you say something, please?”

I tried again. “What?”

He grinned. “Well at least that was a whole word.” He sat down and pulled me down next to him. “I was going to sell, but well, I changed my mind. And I wanted to surprise you, but I didn’t want you to give Lulu away thinking you wouldn’t be able to keep her. So that’s when Trish agreed to say she’d take her. Where is Lulu, by the way?”

My mind still spinning, I pointed.

Xander raised an eyebrow. “That’s the fireplace.”

Focusing, I managed to point toward the backyard.

“Much better.”

I tried to focus, but I couldn’t. I just couldn’t believe that he was here. But why was he here? What did it mean? Was this just about the house? Or was it also about… me?

He took my hands in his. “I want you to live here. I want us to live here. I’ve been talking to a lot of people, and I think I can make it work.”

My lips were so dry it was hard to speak. “Make what work?”

“Being U.S. based. Working more from home. Some travel, yes, but having a home base. Here. With you.”

“With me?”

He laughed. “Yes. With you. We’re a team, you and me. We fixed up the house. We finished your book. Which my friend loves, by the way. Drew, one of my old Chicago buddies. He’s an editor now for an online magazine, and he wants to do a whole series of articles to coincide with the book’s launch.”

“What launch?”

“For when it gets published.”

“But… no one wants to publish it.”

“Yet,” he said, squeezing my hand. “But now we’re in this together. And we’ll find someone. We work well together, and you’re a strong writer. My boss wants you to come with me.”

“What? Where?” My heart was still thudding along in irregular beats. I didn’t know what any of this meant.

“When I go out on assignment. Next month they want me to go to Austin. And they’re sending you, too. They want you to write about some of the subjects I photograph.”

“They do?”

Xander paused and looked over at me, his expression gentle. “I wanted to surprise you, not shock the hell out of you. Let’s start over. Come here.”

He lifted me up and set me on his lap, my legs between his. Then he kissed me lightly on the lips. “Let’s start simple. I’m not selling the house. I want to live here—with you. Because I love you.”

He did? But… but… “Why didn’t you lead with that in the first place?”

Xander smiled, not an arrogant smirk, but a genuine smile. And I loved them both—the sincere smile and the smug grin. “I love you, too.”

“Then all the rest will work itself out,” Xander said. And then he smoothed the hair off of my face and brought his head to mine. When our lips met, miraculously, my mind cleared. He was back—for good this time. He wasn’t going to leave anymore, at least not for long. And when he did leave, I’d be going with him sometimes.

It was more than I’d ever hoped for. It was perfect, really. I pulled my head back long enough to say the only words that were important enough to repeat.

“I love you—with all my heart.”