Page 111 of The Encounter
She stared dumbly at him for a few beats before taking the clipboard and signing the bottom. “Who are they from?”
“There’s a card attached.”
She handed the clipboard back over and then he handed her a massive bouquet of three-dozen red roses with baby’s breath spread throughout. Then he produced a box wrapped in red paper with a large white bow and handed it over.
“Have a good day!” he called as he walked back down the sidewalk and got into a van with a flower shop name printed on the side.
“You too,” she muttered, although he was already gone.
Maddie kicked the door shut and walked back to the living room, struggling to see around the large display.
“Wow! That’s gorgeous!” Kayla said. She walked over and cleared a spot on their kitchen table for the bouquet.
Maddie set it down and reached for the card. There was no doubt the flowers were from Jace. There was no one else in her life who would send an extravagant display—or any display for that matter.
She took a deep breath before pulling the small card from the envelope.
Maddie,
I know you don’t want to see me, but please meet me one last time tomorrow night. If you don’t want to see me again after that, I will no longer pursue you. But please give me this last chance to speak with you.
I love you.
Jace
Maddie’s eyes welled with tears. She sat down on a dining room chair and dropped her face into her hands.
“What did it say?” Kayla whispered.
Maddie handed her the card.
A moment later, Kayla was kneeling in front of Maddie.
“I think you should hear him out,” she said.
“This is killing me,” Maddie sobbed. “I love him, but it hurts to be with him.”
“I know.” Kayla rubbed Maddie’s leg. “What’s in the box?”
Maddie tugged at the bow and paper on the box, setting it aside. The newest iPhone sat inside with a note that said,I heard you haven’t been able to use your phone, so I got you a new one with a new number and my number already programmed inside. Please use this as much as you need.
Maddie picked up the cell phone, which already sported a brand new purple case with a silhouette of a dress on it.—A case she would have easily picked out herself. She powered it on and immediately clicked on the contacts to find Jace’s number already listed under “Your #1 Fan”. She laughed through her tears and wiped at her eyes.
“That was nice of him,” Kayla said.
Maddie nodded.
“Let’s sit on the couch and watch a sappy movie. Then you should go to bed and think about what you want. Tomorrow you will meet Jace, hear him out, and make your decision,” Kayla said.
She pulled a tissue out of a box on the table and handed it to Maddie, who wiped her tears with it.
“Okay,” Maddie said. She took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “Let’s do this girl’s night.”
The two friends sat on the couch and started up a Christmas movie. Despite spending some much needed girl time with Kayla, Maddie’s eyes strayed to the beautiful bouquet on the table. A decision needed to be made. Halfway through the movie, she pulled out her new phone and her finger hovered over Jace’s number.
She clicked on it and opened a text message.
Thank you for the phone and flowers. I’ll see you tomorrow.
