December 18
It was the day of Hobson and Rowe's annual Christmas party, and as usual, many of the women took the afternoon off to go to the hairdresser's or just to have extra time in which to get ready. Sara was no exception. Rosalind had never left early on the day of the Christmas party, but shortly after her secretary had gone home, the editor went home, too.
Since it wouldn't take her long to get ready—all she had to do was change into a more formal outfit—Rosalind decided to walk home from work rather than take the bus. When she passed Tiffany's, she was immediately drawn to the display of jewelry in the window. She gazed longingly at a two-karat diamond engagement ring and had to force herself to walk away.
What happened to not getting my hopes up? she asked herself.
When Rosalind got home, she still had two hours before the cocktail hour began, so she made herself a light snack since she didn't want to spoil her appetite for dinner by eating lunch. Next came what had recently become her favorite part of the day: the opening of the advent calendar. Inside the drawer marked eighteen, she found a pink candy in the shape of a heart. Traditionally sold around Valentine's Day, the pastel-colored, sugary wavers had phrases imprinted on them, such as BE MINE, TOO COOL or HUGS. As Rosalind turned the candy over, she was expecting it to say I LOVE YOU. Instead, it read MARRY ME.
All her good intentions not to get her hopes up went right out the window. She hoped with all her heart that the pink candy spoke what was on Brett's mind.
