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"I see," the proprietress said at last She looked at Jane, at Miss Heartwright, then fumbled with the keys at her side "Well, now, aheet it ever happened I do hope, Miss Heartwright, that you will continue to honor us with your presence

Ah, you old witch, Jane thought

"Yes, of course, thank you" Miss Heartwright was in her best form, all proper feminine concern, artless and pleasant Her eyes twinkled They really did

Everyone began to li, pleased, before he turned away

"I’ive ht"

"Amelia" She held Jane’s hand to help her descend froe "You must call me Amelia now"

"Thank you, Aht actually embrace

They didn’t

Boyfriend 9

Kevin Hyde, AGE TWENTY-SEVEN

Man, Jane loved him Sure, he wore an unnecessary tie to work and "weekend casual" meant khaki slacks, but who’s perfect? She’d once made a list of "must-have attributes in future husband," and Kevin even otiable" items In retrospect, he’d had so, just in hisfor Jane despite the fact he hadn’t wanted a serious girlfriend

He played guitar, ether He loved hisof a local car dealershzp ad that otten too hard, hasn’t it? I h school science, Jane’s teacher had dipped an orange in liquid nitrogen and then thrown it on the floor, cracking it like glass That’s the only way she kne to describe the physical sensation in her heart--cold and shattered She tried to play it cool, to say, "Yeah, it’s fizzling out, isn’t it? Well, let’s still be friends" She tried, but she ended up pleading, her nose running,out her e after she’d forgotten Kevin’s sone wedding-dress browsing on the sly For a week, she curled up in a corner, crying and consu ice cream by the pint At last, Emma-esque, she burned Kevin mementos one by one in her wok lid