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The flu? I don’t reh the flu But, then, my memories are so fuzzy I’m sure I did, if he says I did And I don’t want to interrupt or contradict hiently

“You cradledettingof wine “You were el, Lottie Maybe I went off the rails because I didn’t have you in my life”

His guardian angel That’s so romantic I’m quite interested to knoent off the rails—but to ask hioes off the rails Then they co meanwhile

Now he glances at my left hand “How come you haven’t been snapped up, anyway?”

“Haven’t uy,” I say casually

“A gorgeous girl like you? Should be fighting them off”

“Well, h, but for the first ti my composure slips a little And all of a sudden—I can’t help it—I have a flashback to the first time I met Richard It was at the opera, which is weird, because I never go to the opera normally, and nor does he We were both there as a favor to friends It was a charity gala of Tosca and he was in black tie, looking tall and distinguished, and the mo of jealousy I hadn’t evenand handing out chane, and then he turned to me and said, “I’m sorry, we haven’t been introduced,” and I nearly fell into his gorgeous dark eyes

And that was it It felt ical He wasn’t with the blond woman after all, and after the intermission he switched seats to be next to me We went back to the opera on our first anniversary, and I thought we’d do it every year for the rest of our lives

Soreception and everybody saying, Ahh …

“Oh God” Ben is peering at ?”

“Nothing!” I s You know Life”

“Exactly Exactly” He nods fervently as though I’ve solved so with “Lotts, do you feel as fucked up by life as I do?”

“Yes” I take a deep slug of wine “Yes, I do Even more so”