Madison had hardly slept. At three o’clock she gave up and dragged out of bed. It was colder than when she had gone to bed at nine last night so she slipped into a pair of blue fuzzy slippers she found in the closet and put on a matching thick fleece robe. She stumbled into the kitchen and put on a pot of coffee. Today was going to be rough. For a number of reasons.

Maybe she should call in sick. She went to the patio door and peeked outside. There was snow coming down in delicate little flakes. Madison was mesmerized. She couldn’t remember the last time she saw snow. It was soothing.

It might be the middle of the night, but she was suddenly craving something hot and sweet. After taking a quick inventory of her cooking supplies, she took out a bowl and began mixing together the ingredients for chocolate chip cookies. She didn’t know if her recipe was right. She didn’t really know what she would end up with, but it felt right, so she went with it.

She dumped in a half cup of sugar, a half cup of brown sugar, some butter, shortening, and turned on the oven. She cracked open an egg after checking the expiration date and wondered who had stocked the refrigerator with food. She stirred in some vanilla, and one and one-half cups of flour. After stirring that all together, she stirred in some chocolate-chips.

Maybe Daniel had been right. Maybe this was someone else’s house. Maybe they were just on vacation. She glanced at the calendar on the wall. This was early October. People went on vacation all times of the year. Maybe a retired person or couple lived here. There was no evidence of children. So, it was definitely a possibility.

Dropping spoonfuls of cookie dough onto a baking sheet, she considered her options. she didn’t really have any. She had nowhere else to go.

Yesterday, at this time, she felt she could have gone to stay with Daniel. Now she didn’t feel that she had that option. He wasn’t talking to her anymore.

Sliding the baking sheet into the oven, she blinked back tears.

She hadn’t wanted to become dependent on him. She didn’t want to rely on him. But then, because she had been so desperate, she had opened up to him and just as she had feared, he had rejected her.

After pouring coffee into an oversized cup, she added enough creamer to lighten it to a cream color, opened the patio curtains, and stood watching the snowflakes falling in the moonlight.

She could stay here, feeling sorry for herself, and pamper herself with hot chocolate and freshly baked cookies. Such a tempting idea. Or she could shower and get herself to work. Doubtlessly the mountains would be breathtaking with a fresh coat of snow. She would have to see Daniel and pretend that it didn’t hurt when he no longer showed any interest in her.

It was especially difficult because she didn’t know what she would typically have done. It would have been so much easier to know what to do if she just knew herself.

But in a way, it was kind of exciting to think that she had the unusual opportunity to reinvent herself. Maybe in her other life, she would have stayed home and felt sorry for herself. But in this life, she didn’t want to.

The timer beeped and she rescued her cookies from the oven, feeling a little better. She didn’t need Daniel to talk to her to feel good about herself.

She would go do her job today and do it well. She would be the kind of person she could respect.

While her cookies cooled on the rack, she took her uniform out of the dryer and smoothed it out. She would ask Mattie to order her another one so she could wash one and wear one, instead of having to wash it every night.

Today, she resolved, she would branch out and get to know some of the other train staff. She seemed to be a likeable enough person.

It was time to make some friends.

When Daniel got to work the next morning, the first thing he saw was Madison standing outside talking with Mike, the engineer. He almost didn’t recognize her; she was bundled in a long wool coat. He smiled. If she thought this was cold, she really must be from Houston, Texas.

His first impulse was to walk over to them to see what they were talking about. He fought a wave of jealousy. He hadn’t spoken to her since lunch yesterday, and he missed her terribly.

He had taken about three steps in that direction when he heard his name being called from behind him. Cursing under his breath, he turned.

“Mattie,” he said, genuinely surprised to see the office manager out that time of the morning. “What are you doing here?” He had never once in the four years she’d been office manager seen her at work before the early train pulled out.

“I need you to sign some papers and since you’re always gone before I get here, I had to find some way to catch you.”

“You could have caught me in the afternoon.”

She put her hand on her waist. “And how am I supposed to do that when every day this week you’ve been disappearing without so much as sticking your head in my doorway.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, realizing that she was right.

“It’s okay. I can use the overtime.”

Before he could respond, she continued. “I need you to sign the work hire papers for Madison.”

“I thought you already hired her.”

“Like I could do that without your say so.”

“She sure thinks you hired her.”

“I did. But you have to make it official.”

Daniel glanced at the paper and scrawled his name across the signature line. “I still don’t see what the urgency is.”

“I mostly wanted to make sure you’re ok.”

He smiled at her. “I’m paying you overtime to check up on me.”

“I suppose if you want to look at it like that.”

But Daniel wasn’t really listening to Mattie. And she saw where his gaze was focused.

“So, what do you think about her?” she asked.

“About who?” he asked, still watching Madison. She seemed to sense that someone was watching her because she turned and looked at him. She looked so serene and composed standing there with scattered snow flakes falling all around her. In that moment, the rest of the world melted away for Daniel and it was only him and her.

“About Madison,” Mattie’s voice demanded his attention.

“I think she’s beautiful.”

He glanced back at Mattie. Saw her sly smile. For a brief second, wondered what it was all about. Then his gaze was back on Madison, but she had turned back to Mike. He was pointing to something underneath the train.

“It looks like she’s enjoying learning about the train,” Mattie said.

Daniel looked back her. “Madison seems to be enjoying everything. Do you know anything else about her besides what was in her personnel file?’

“She didn’t disclose a lot of information, but she’s the brightest person we’ve ever hired. No offense intended.”

“None taken. So, you don’t know anything about her?”

“Not really. Do you want me to try and find out something? I can run a background check.”

“No, don’t do that. She’s harmless.”

“I don’t think she’s a criminal, but I do think she’s trouble.”

“Care to explain?’

“She certainly has your attention.”

Daniel studied his office manager. How much did he really want to tell her? If he told her anything she didn’t already know, she would probably go back and gossip. It wasn’t malicious. It was just her way of fitting in. “She’s a new hire,” he said. “We didn’t go through orientation together, so I don’t know how we’ll work together under pressure. That’s all.”

Mattie looked disappointed. He couldn’t blame her really. She’d been trying to set him up with girls since Ashley. “Maybe you should look at her from the perspective of a man and not so much as an employer.”

“I already said I think she’s beautiful. But you know, Mattie, that I don’t date co-workers or passengers. If you wanted me to go out with her, you should have gotten her a job down the street. Something safe, by the way.”

Mattie rolled her eyes. “You’re a stubborn man.” She threw up her hands. “I give up.” She took the clipboard from him and headed inside – out of the snow.

Mike and Madison were getting into the engine. And a few seconds later, he had Madison ringing the first boarding whistle.

“Dang it,” Daniel said under his breath. Now it was too late to talk with her. He had things to do. It would have to wait until they were underway. He hoped she wasn’t planning on making the whole trip in the engine. If she did, he’d have to fire her. He needed her to help with passengers and watch for hot boxes. He shook his head. The woman was driving him crazy. He was tempted to go get her and drag her away from the grizzly, old engineer who was taking her attention from him.

Nah. He had to get a grip. She’d come down shortly. With anyone else, he’d be pleased with their motivation to learn.

Mattie was right. Madison McKivitz was trouble.

Madison’s determination to have a good day was working. She had learned all about pistons and valves and exhaust steam vents. But, more interesting to her, she had learned Mike’s wife, his daughter, and his two grandchildren. He was looking forward to his grandchildren coming to visit from Minnesota. They were both boys and loved the train.

He had told her that he didn’t get lonely up there by himself, instead, he enjoyed the quiet time and the scenery. Though occasionally, he would have someone ride up there with him and he enjoyed that, too. He invited Madison to ride with him on her day off, though he knew most of the staff preferred to stay in town on their day off after riding the train all week.

He seemed like a good man and she was glad she had had a chance to meet him. He had been excited about the little bag of chocolate chip cookies she had brought him.

When she had spotted Daniel across the way, she had felt surprisingly calm. It was a shame he was no longer interested in her, because he was, indeed, a handsome man.

A little later, as she stood at the back of the open gondola car, watching fat little snowflakes drifting down, she was surprised to find Daniel at her elbow.

“It’s pretty, isn’t it?”

“It’s beautiful.”

“It is.”

They stood in silence as the train started up the hill. Madison wasn’t sure what to say to him.

“Do you feel alright?”

She turned her gaze toward him. “Sure. Why do you ask?”

“You just look a little tired.”

“Thanks. I had some insomnia last night.”

“I guess it happens to all of us. You’re still free Tuesday?”

“As far as I know.”

“Have dinner with me.”

Madison wasn’t sure if it was a request or a demand. There was something serious about him today. She didn’t know him well enough to understand it, really. She was curious, though. “Ok,” she agreed.

“Good,” he said. “I’ll see you for lunch.”

I’ll see you for lunch, her thoughts echoed as she watched his retreating back. She considered that statement. They’d had lunch every day since she started this job. Maybe he just assumed. Well. She was kind of relieved about it. Wary, too, though.

“Today is our last day to come all the way to Silverton,” Daniel announced later, as they made their way off the train.

“Why?” Madison asked.

“In winter, we only make a half-trip - up to the inn where we turn around and come back.”

“Right. I just didn’t think it would be so soon. It’s only October.”

“You are from Houston,” he said, with a wink.

“I may very well be,” she agreed. “I can’t remember when I last saw snow.”

“That must be confusing,” he said, “since you can’t remember much of anything.”

“That’s not necessarily true,” she disagreed. “I can remember things like that. Just not things about me.”

“Hmm. Well, anyway, since today is our last day here until Spring, I called ahead and made us reservations at the Lodge for lunch.”

“The Lodge? Are we spending the night?”

“Do you want to?”

She shot him a look.

“It’s the fancy place to eat in Silverton,” he clarified.

“Oh, I don’t need fancy. A picnic would have been good enough for me.”

He nodded. “I thought about a picnic, but then it snowed and I didn’t think you’d want to sit outside and freeze.”

“Yeah,” she said, noticing that the snow had stopped, but there was a light dusting on the road. “You’re probably right.”

“You don’t mind?” he asked.

He looked so boyish, so innocent and hopeful. How could she turn him down? “No, I don’t mind. It’s sweet. Thanks.”

When they got to the lodge, no one was there - except their server and the hostess.

After they were seated, Madison turned and whispered to him, “Why is no one else here?”

“It’ Sunday and they’re closed.”

“What? If they’re closed, how are we here?”

“I pulled some strings,” he said, nonchalantly, as he opened his menu.

Madison attempted to wrap her mind around this information. Something didn’t add up. A conductor on an entertainment train, essentially a tourist ride, was able to get a private table at a restaurant on a day they were closed. She would have to collect more information in her attempt to figure this out. Even with her loss of memory, she didn’t think she would have forgotten how this was done. This was not a common procedure.

“What would you like to order?” he asked.

“I think maybe we should have worn something a little nicer and maybe a little cleaner.”

“Are you kidding? I think you’re kind of sexy in your overalls.”

She giggled. And sort of snorted at the same time. “That’s a terrible thing to say,” she said, her cheeks flushing as he stared at her.

“No, I’m serious. I’ve never seen anyone so sexy in these company issue overalls.”

“I think maybe you’re insane.”

“Maybe so, but we’ll have plenty of days when we can dress up. Right now, let’s just have a nice lunch and enjoy it.”

“Okay,” she said, and opened her menu. He really must be insane. But she may as well humor him. He must have either spent a lot of money to do this or else he knew someone well in town. He could be charming when he wanted to. Maybe someone owed him a favor.

“Stop trying so hard to figure it out,” he said, teasingly.

“Do you own this restaurant?” she teased.

“Nope, just reserved it. Now,” he took her hand. “What do you like?”

Madison studied the menu. She considered just ordering a salad, but decided that would be an insult after all the trouble Daniel must have gone to get this restaurant for their lunch. “I’d like the shrimp fettuccini,” she said.

The server brought them a basket of bread and took their order. Daniel ordered for her and ordered a steak for himself.

“Wine?” the server asked.

“No, we’re on the job,” he said and the server left. “Ok, Madison McKivitz.”

She looked at him, looked into those huge green eyes of his. His expression was intense.

“Ok?”

“Tell me something about you,” he said.

“Are you being mean?” she asked.

“Not at all. Just tell me anything. You said you couldn’t remember seeing snow in a long time. You ordered shrimp fettuccini. You know you like fettuccini and you must know you like shrimp. You made chocolate chip cookies and gave some to Mike. He said you made them from scratch. Did you do it from memory? Or did you use a recipe? You know things about yourself, Madison. You just have to figure out what those things are.”

She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye. “It’s not that easy. I don’t know until it comes up. I can’t just spontaneously know. It would be so much easier if I could. But it just doesn’t work that way.”

“I’m sorry,” he said, taking her hand. “I don’t mean to upset you. Just to support you. If you never remember who you used to be, that’s ok with me. I happen to like who you are now. Even if it’s totally different from who you were. Which I kind of doubt.”

He entwined his fingers with hers. His gaze was locked on hers. On the one hand, she felt a little like a fly in a web. On the other hand, she felt a little like a spider - powerful. She had his attention and she had to confess, at least to herself, that she liked it.

“I think maybe I like shopping for clothes,” she said.

He laughed. “Somehow that doesn’t surprise me.”

“Well, it kind of surprises me, since I picked a job where I have to wear overalls.”

Daniel laughed – hearty male laughter.

Madison smiled, liking that she could make him laugh.

“I have an idea,” she said.

“Tell me.”

“Why don’t you tell me about you.”

“Ok, what do you want to know?”

“I wouldn’t know what to ask. Just tell me what you like.”

“Ok. I have a dog named Rover.”

She laughed. “Rover?”

“Hey, don’t make fun of the little guy without even meeting him.”

“I’m looking forward to meeting Rover. What kind of dog is he?”

“He’s a golden retriever. And he will absolutely love you. At least if you let him lick you.”

“Where is he now?”

“He’s at home.”

“What does he do all day when you aren’t there?”

“He sleeps.”

She laughed. “How do you know this?”

“Because the couch is always warm when I get home.”

“So, you think he stays there all day?”

“What else would he do?”

“Whatever dogs do.”

“You like dogs?”

“I do. I think I also like cats.”

“Uh oh. Rover chases cats from the yard.”

“Well, you never know. He could have a soft spot for them.”

The server brought them salads, then disappeared.

“I think you’re a vegetarian,” he said.

“I like shrimp.”

“You can still be a vegetarian and eat shrimp. I knew a girl once, one of my professors actually who called herself a crusto-vegetarian. She only ate shrimp and occasionally fish, but never touched beef, or pork, or chicken.”

“That sounds kind of like me.”

“I think so, too,” he said. “I like beef.”

“I noticed.”

“Does that make you ill?”

“Only if you make me eat it.”

“Never.”

“You have a house?”

“I sure do. Do you want to see it?”

“I would like to see it.”

“That can be arranged.”

“Daniel?”

“Yes?” It was at that moment that the server appeared next to the table with their entrees. Both were steaming hot.

“There might be something to this private dining,” Daniel said. “You were saying?” He cut into his steak and Madison was thankful that he had gotten it well done.

“I was just wondering... I mean…” She took a deep breath and plunged forward. “I don’t want to cause any problems with you and your girlfriend.”

“What girlfriend?”

“I don’t know. The girl you were with last night.”

“I was with two girls, but neither one of them is my girlfriend. One of them is married to my best friend, and the other one is dating another good friend of mine.”

“Oh. I just thought....”

“You thought that I must have a girlfriend.”

“I guess so.”

“You and everyone else.”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean that everyone I know, including Mattie, by the way, is always trying to set me up. In fact...” his voice trailed off.

Madison took a big bite of shrimp. It really was some of the best food she had eaten since, well, since she could remember.

“I think Mattie was trying to set me up with you.”

Madison struggled to swallow. She hoped she didn’t choke. “You think that’s why she hired me?”

“I kind of do.”

“Oh, no.”

“It’s okay. I pretended I wasn’t interested.”

“You pret....”

“Yeah, she never suspected.”

“You pretended?”

He winked at her. She just sat there, holding her empty fork. Watching him. Was he toying with her? Was he serious?

“I didn’t even sign your hire papers until today.”

“What does that mean?”

“I think she was waiting to see what I thought about you.”

Madison swallowed hard. “And you had to sign my papers because?”

“Because I’m your supervisor.”

“Which means you can’t be, um, interested in me.”

“As far as she knows. I don’t date co-workers and I don’t date passengers.”

“Daniel,” Madison said, looking at him earnestly. “You have me completely confused.

Daniel set down his fork and placed his hand, palm up, on the table between them. She placed her hand in his. “I don’t want to date you, Madison McKivitz. I want to marry you.”

Madison felt a little dizzy. “You want to what?” She was having trouble with her ears.

“I want to marry you. I don’t have a ring to offer you, but I’ll take you in to Denver to pick out something. Anything you want. I think it’s better when the girl picks out her own ring, don’t you?”

Her ears were ringing and she was grateful that she was sitting down.

“Daniel,” she said, holding on to his hand. “You don’t know me. You can’t marry me. Even I don’t know me. I can’t marry you.”

His face turned a little pale. “You think you’re already married?”

“What? No! I don’t know. I mean, what if I have a boyfriend?”

“Boyfriends don’t count when I’ve already proposed.”

She laughed and had a little trouble catching her breath. “Daniel, I think maybe you’re crazy.”

He smiled. “I am crazy. I’m crazy for you.”

“No, this is insane.” She pulled her hand out of his and sat back to stare at him.

“Okay, you’re right. You don’t know me. What do you want to know?”

“Have you been married before?”

“No.”

“How old are you?”

“Thirty-five?”

“What’s wrong with you that you haven’t been married?”

“I was engaged for five years. She died seven years ago.”

“Oh my God. She died? How?”

“I didn’t kill her. It was a skiing accident. I was heartbroken. And haven’t dated seriously since.”

“Why me?”

“Because you make me feel alive. And I don’t want a long engagement. I was engaged to Ashley for five years and we dated three before that. I don’t believe in wasting time. Life is too fragile.”

She stared at him – speechless.

“You already know that I went to college at Colorado State to major in economics. I’ll take you to meet my parents as soon as you’re ready.”

“No, I can’t. I mean I’d like to meet your parents, but I can’t marry you. Not without knowing you. Not without knowing myself.”

“Ok,” he said, putting his hands up. “Take your time. But don’t forget me when your memory comes back.”

“Forget you? Why do you think I’d forget you?”

“My friend, Jenni, has a master’s degree in clinical psychology. She said that people often forget their new life when they remember their old life.”

“I don’t think I could forget you. But, then...” She turned and stared across the empty room, a feeling foreboding coming over her.

“You probably didn’t think you’d forget your old life either.”

“Exactly,” she said softly.

“I’m not letting you go, Madison. I don’t care if you do have some other guy out there looking for you. He hasn’t found you yet, so he doesn’t know you all that well. Or else he doesn’t care as much about you as I do.”

“You don’t know that.”

“No, I don’t. And I’m sorry for saying it. But I don’t plan to let you get away.”

“You’re freaking me out a little.”

“I don’t mean to.”

“We should go.”

“Yes, you’re right,” Daniel agreed, put some money on the table, and together they left the Lodge.

“Hey, we should get you one of these,” Daniel said, pointing to some huge cat eye shades in one of the shop windows.

In spite of herself, Madison chucked. “Don’t you dare.”

“You said you like cats.”

“That doesn’t mean I want to look like one!”

“Ok, I won’t get you cat eye glasses.”

“Thank you.”

Mike met them halfway back to the train. “I just got a weather report,” he said. “We’re in for torrential rains.”

They hurried back toward the train. Madison wasn’t sure what the rush was. They couldn’t leave early. They had to wait on the passengers. And she voiced that observation to Daniel.

“You’re right. We can’t leave until it’s time, but we can make sure the engine is in order and make sure we’re alert.”

Madison wondered how he could go from proposing marriage to her to being on alert without so much as a blink. She was still a little dazed.

Of course, she told herself, there was no way he had been serious. She had taken him seriously only because she liked him. But he would probably never even bring it up again. Sort of like yesterday, when he had been completely attentive, then hadn’t even said goodnight. She wondered if today would be like that, too.

The trip down had been uneventful after all. It had rained and it had rained hard. They had even seen some lightening and the passengers had sat quietly through it all, especially the ones in the open-air gondola. Several of them had moved inside to the covered coach seats, but even though the train wasn’t full, others had elected to remain outside. She had to stay outside in order to have a good view of the tracks just in case there was a fire despite the rain.

She hurried across the track area and stopped inside to shake the water from her hair. She was cold, she was tired, and she was emotionally drained after the day’s events.

She was halfway surprised when Daniel caught up with her before she started home. “Hey,” he said, “you didn’t wait for me.”

“I didn’t know I was supposed to.”

“Want to do something? After you clean up.”

“No, I think I’m gonna just head on home, take a hot shower, and crawl into bed. Remember, I didn’t sleep last night.”

At first, he didn’t say anything. Then he nodded. “Ok. I think I’ll do the same. Tuesday will be here before we know it.”

She gave him a smile. “I’m looking forward to it.”

“Really?” he asked and she suddenly felt bad for thinking bad things about him.

“Yeah. See you tomorrow. I’m really tired.”

“See you then,” he said, as she turned to walk out the front door of the depot. “Wait.”

A surge of emotions flooding through her. She turned back.

“I’m walking you home.”

Relief shot through her. But after not sleeping last night, she was exhausted. And she had to process what had happened at lunch. The whole thing was surreal. She shrugged. And he followed.

They stopped at her door. He pulled her to him, wrapped his arms around her. He stroked her hair. Kissed her forehead. Her cheeks. The corner of her mouth. Pressed his cheek against hers. “Sleep well,” he whispered in her ear, turning her toward the door.

As she let herself in, she felt a momentary spurt of longing for a cat to meet her at the door. She supposed it was a result of their lunchtime conversation, but she felt she was missing something, nonetheless. It was Daniel’s fault. He had her thinking about pets.

Instead of a bath, she took a quick shower, ate a peanut butter sandwich, and crawled under the down comforter of her bed. In a few minutes, she was asleep.

The dream came clear and vivid. She was dressed in a lab coat, talking with a pregnant woman. The room was fuzzy, so she couldn’t really make it out. She felt happy.

Then there was a loud noise. A gunshot. The pregnant woman screamed.

A door opened and a man stood there waving a gun at them. He aimed it for the pregnant woman’s belly and pulled the trigger. The pregnant woman had her hands over her face.

Then there was blood everywhere. There was a hole in the woman’s belly, tiny body parts were everywhere. Madison was covered with blood.

When she looked up, the gun was pointed at her face, only a few inches away.

She woke screaming. Sweating. Terrified. Her heart felt like it was about to explode in her chest. It had seemed so real.

“It was only a dream. Only a nightmare,” she repeated to herself over and over. “It wasn’t real.” Then she started to cry, deep, heart wrenching sobs. She cried until she had nothing left. Until she wore herself out and fell back to sleep. Thankfully, not to dream.

She’d be there, Daniel assured himself. She’d been late before. She wasn’t really an early morning person. She’d show up.

But she didn’t. The train was scheduled to pull out of the depot in five minutes and she wasn’t there. He radioed Mike and told him to hold up. One of the staff was running late.

Ten minutes later, he decided this time she wasn’t coming.

He wavered. Something must be wrong. He’d just seen her last night. She had said she would see him this morning. She had mentioned at one point that she had a headache.

He had promised to look after her. Something wasn’t right.

He radioed the driver of the scout car, Kevin, and asked him to come on board to act as conductor for the day.

He let Mike know, then he jumped off the train and darted across the depot area.

When he reached her front door, he knocked frantically. He waited. He knocked again.

She was in trouble. He just knew it.

He saw the neighbor’s front door open, and a woman stuck her head out. When she saw him, she started to step outside. He would ask her.

Just then, Madison opened her door and looked at him.

“Thank, God,” he said. “I thought something had happened.” He glanced back over at the neighbor’s door, but she had gone back inside.

“I fell asleep,” she said.

“And apparently didn’t wake back up,” he said. Her eyes were red and she looked a little unsteady. “You’re sick.’

She nodded. “I’ve been throwing up since about Midnight.”

They went inside and she made it back to the sofa in time to collapse on it. “What are you doing here?”

“You didn’t show up for work. I was worried.”

“Who’s conducting the train?”

“Kevin.”

“That’s good,” she said. “You shouldn’t be here. You might catch it.”

“I think if I’m going to catch it,” he said, “it’s a little too late after last night.”

“Oh yeah,” she said, turning pink.

“Have you taken anything?”

“Only about half the medicine cabinet.”

“When’s the last time you were sick?”

“With throwing up? About two hours ago. I really think I’m going to be okay. I think it’s just a bug I picked up from someone.”

He looked around. Saw no evidence that she’d had any fluids. He checked the refrigerator. “I’ll be back in a few minutes,” he said. “I’m going to pick up some Gatorade for you.”

“Ok,” she said, lying back down on the couch and closing her eyes.

“I’m taking your key,” he said.

“Ok.”

The door slammed and Madison felt the tears falling down her cheeks. She’d been so afraid. Throwing up made her feel like she was about to die. Alone. She could have called Daniel. Probably should have. But she just didn’t have the energy and besides, it had been the middle of the night. She kept thinking she’d do it later. Then she fell asleep and didn’t wake up again until he’d pounded on the door.

She had been so glad to see him.

If only she’d had the energy to let him know how she felt.

With that thought, she closed her eyes and fell asleep.

When she woke back up, Daniel was stretched out in a recliner next to her, reading a book.

When he saw that she was awake, he jumped up and went to sit on the couch next to her. Felt her forehead. “How do you feel?”

“Exhausted.”

“Hungry?”

“I don’t know.”

“I’ll heat you some soup,” he said, “I not only bought Gatorade, but also soup, crackers, and a frozen pizza.”

“I don’t think I should eat a pizza,” she said.

“The pizza’s for me,” he said. “I’ll be right back.”

She settled back on the couch and listened while he opened canned soup and put it on the stove to heat. While it heated, he brought her a glass of Gatorade.

“Thanks,” she said, taking a sip. It felt good to her throat. “What time is it?”

“Three-thirty,” he said, checking his watch.

“I’ve been sleeping for hours,” she said. “I’m so sorry.”

He sat down next to her again. “No need to be sorry.”

“I’m sure you had other things to do.”

“Are you kidding? I’m getting some reading done.”

“What are you reading?”

“The Hobbit,” he said, glancing at the book cover. “It was on your bookshelf.”

“Oh. I hadn’t noticed.”

“Does it sound like something you’d read?” he asked.

“No, it really doesn’t.”

The timer in the kitchen started to beep.

“Soup’s on. I’ll be right back.”

He brought her a mug of steaming hot vegetable tomato soup. “It smells great,” he said.

Madison sniffed. “It does actually.”

“Can you sit up?”

Carefully, she slid herself into a semi-sitting position and took the mug from him.

The soup was hot and soothing to her throat. “You’re a life saver,” she said.

“Eat up. There’s more where that came from.”

She ate a few more bites, then set the mug down. “I don’t think I should overdo it.”

While he put away the dishes, she settled back on the sofa. It was comforting having him here.

She hadn’t been sick since early that morning and she could hardly expect him to stay here while she recuperated. She had absolutely no energy, however, and seriously didn’t know how she would have made it without him.

“All cleaned up,” he said. Coming back and plopping down in the recliner.

“Thanks.”

He opened his book. She struggled to find the right words. “I can’t expect you to stay.”

“You’re ready for me to leave?” he asked, setting down the book.

“No, not at all,” she said quickly. “I just can’t ask you to stay.”

“Besides running home later to walk Rover, I have nowhere else to be.”

She sighed. “I’m just not any fun right now.”

“Madison,” he said, “you’re sick. You’ve got no one else to take care of you. I don’t mind. Really I don’t.”

With that comment, Madison felt worse than she had. He was only taking care of her because she had no one else. He would do it for anyone. “Really,” she insisted. “I don’t need you to take care of me.”

“I don’t think you understand,” he said. “I wouldn’t do this for just anyone. Look,” he said, picking up two DVDs. “I brought movies.”

“You brought movies?” she repeated, feeling a little better.

“Yes,” he said, holding them up proudly, “chick flicks!”

She laughed. “Okay,” she said, “you win. You can stay.”

“Thank you,” he said. “But I’ll stay only on one condition.”

“What’s that?” she asked, confused. Hadn’t he just asked to stay?

“I’ll stay only if you skip work tomorrow.”

She considered this. She wasn’t sure she could make it even if she tried. She nodded. “Good idea. But I can’t keep you from going.”

“If you keep getting better, I won’t have to skip.”

He put in The Lake House, a movie with Sandra Bullock about a woman who falls in love with a man who lives in an alternate time.

They sat side by side, holding hands at first, then snuggling up together under a blanket. By the end of the movie, Madison was crying.

“So… she had to wait while he caught up with her?” Daniel asked, trying to figure out the intricate plot.

“Yes,” Madison said. “But...”

“So, for her, it’s one year, and for him it’s another?”

“I don’t know,” Madison said. “However, it happened, isn’t it wonderful?”

“Yes, it is. You’re a little romantic.”

“I think I’m a pretty big romantic.”

“I like it,” he said.

“You’re not?”

“I’m romantic,” he insisted.

“Then you liked the movie?”

“It was great,” he said. “Just a little confusing.”

“Are you hungry?” she asked.

“Yeah, are you?”

“A little.”

“This is great,” he said. “What do you want?’

“Hmm. Pizza, I think.”

“There’s no way I’m giving you pizza.”

“I haven’t been sick all day. I don’t think it’ll hurt.”

“Okay, but I’ll heat some more soup.”

“Alright,” she acquiesced.

They looked at each other and, for just a moment, she thought he was going to kiss her. Then he got up and went to make dinner.

A few minutes later, he sat next to her and held out a slice of pizza. She took a bite and shook her head. “I think you’re right. I better not.”

As he ate pizza and she ate soup, they put in the next movie. Although Madison was enjoying it quite a bit, about halfway through, she fell asleep, her head on Daniel’s shoulder.

When she woke, several hours later, it was dark and she was alone. She knew she was alone because the house felt different - empty.

She checked the clock. It was nearly Midnight. The movie was on pause about where she had fallen asleep. There was a note on the coffee table.

I went home to get some sleep. Early day tomorrow. Call me if you need anything at all. Anything.

Daniel

She was in so much trouble.

Even though he’d proposed to her, in retrospect, she didn’t think he was serious. Not really.

But he was getting under her skin. She was starting to think about him that way. And she had no business doing that. She didn’t even know who she was, much less to be thinking about getting married.

She could already be married for all she knew. Who could I even ask?

Mentally, she shook herself. There she went, fantasizing about a wedding.

Daniel Beaumont was going to cause her pain. She could feel it coming on. She was starting to really like him. She hadn’t even kissed him and she was fantasizing about kissing him and marrying him, and who knows what else she would be fantasizing about next.

Oh my.

“I am an idiot,” Daniel muttered to himself as he opened a can of food for Rover. “Rover, I’m an idiot,” he repeated.

Rover barked.

“Thanks for agreeing,” Daniel said, wryly as he put the plate of dog food on the floor.

He unmade the bed and sat on the edge. And mentally kicked himself. What had he been thinking. He’d asked a girl he’d known less than a week to marry him. Sure, he planned to marry her, but that seemed like an awfully spontaneous way to go about making a lifetime commitment. Besides, it was sure to scare her away. She’d probably avoid him now, thinking he was some kind of a creep.

And, he thought, as he continued to beat himself up. He had never even kissed her. What if he kissed her and felt nothing? Then what? He would have to kiss her to make sure everything clicked.

Thinking about kissing Madison distracted him from kicking himself. He began to imagine how he might go about doing that and what it might be like.