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The only Valentine’s Day you kids ever got to spend together

Hoas that possible? So much love had passed between theain spend the most famously romantic day of the year in each other’s arms

Yet here they were, stuck in a moment between past and future, bittersweet and precious, confusing and strange and incredibly alive Luce didn’t want to screw this up Maybe Bill, and the kind young clergyht in their way

Maybe it eet enough just to be in love

"Nothing’s wrong Just kiss ain"

Daniel lifted her off the ground and held her cradled in his arms His lips were like honey She wrapped her arms around the back of his neck His hands traced the small of her back Luce could barely breathe She was overco They would be drawing fro their sweethearts, girls’ cheeks red with anticipation, everyone hoping for a kiss Luce closed her eyes and wished that every couple on the green--that every couple in the world--could share a kiss as sweet as this one

"Happy Valentine’s Day, Lucinda"

"Happy Valentine’s Day, Daniel Here’s to ave her a warm, hopeful look and nodded "I promise"

EPILOGUE

THE GUARDIANS

Back on the green, four troubadours coe to make roo single young men and women pressed excitedly up to the platform, the troubadours sneaked off to the side

One by one, they raised their masks

Shelby tossed down her recorder Miles struood measure, and Roland harmonized on his fretted lute Arriane slipped her hautboy into its slender wooden case and went to help herself to a bigof punch But she winced as she tossed it back and pressed a hand to the bloody cloth dressing the neound on her neck

"You jammed pretty well out there, Miles," Roland said "You must have played the lyre somewhere before?"

"First tih it was clear he was pleased by the colanced at Shelby and squeezed her hand "I probably just sounded good because of Shel’s accompaniment"

Shelby started to roll her eyes, but she only got halfway there before she gave up and leaned in to peck Miles softly on the lips "Yeah, probably"

"Roland?" Arriane asked suddenly, spinning around to scan the green "What happened to Daniel and Lucinda? A ht over there Oh"--she clapped her forehead--"can nothing go right for love?"

"We just saw theether"

"I told Daniel expressly, ‘Spin Lucinda into the center of the green where we can see you’ It’s as if he still doesn’t kno uess he had other plans," Roland said broodingly "Love souys, relax" Shelby’s voice steadied the others, as if her new love had bolstered her faith in the world "I saw Daniel lead her into the forest, thataway Stop!" she cried, tugging on Arriane’s black cloak "Don’t follow the, they deserve so out a heavy sigh

"Alone" Roland ca an arm around her, careful to avoid her injured neck

"Yes," Miles said, his fingers threaded through Shelby’s "They deserve some time alone"

And in thatthe four Soet its feet off the ground But once it ht, it had to be trusted to take wing on its own and soar past the highest conceivable heights, into the heavens--and beyond