Five

Fate took it twice to let her see

A gem she'd never feel,

To watch it sparkle in the sun,

Then learn it was not real.

Mark sent flowers the next afternoon. Andrea expected roses when she opened the long white box. She drew the green waxed paper from around the blossoms and found a charming assortment of purple irises, pink lilies, and baby's breath, some of Andrea's favorites. How unusual to send them unarranged. He must have asked Joni to suggest something: they were perfect. She gently lifted one of the lilies, with its burgundy velvet throat; and bent to savor the fragrance. Andrea tried to recall the last time she had received flowers from a man, some anniversary years ago, she guessed.

She wondered if Jack had sent flowers to Estelle as she opened the note attached.

It read, "Sorry I let things go too far. Could we try again? Mark." Andrea liked the chivalrous wording. He surely realized she was more to blame than he for letting things get out of hand. When Andrea unbuttoned her bodice to expose her breast, Mark knew what she wanted. He had to know she would not have been satisfied with less. But he was accepting the responsibility for their indiscretion and asking for another chance.

Andrea arranged the delicate blossoms in an exquisite glass vase. Perhaps they would try again. After the children were in bed that evening, she phoned Joni. Andrea didn't hint at the impropriety with Mark, and said only that they had coffee before he drove her home. How could she admit that she behaved so wantonly, and on a first date? As she talked with her friend, leaning back on the lace toss pillows that graced her bed, Andrea glanced at the lovely bouquet sitting on the vanity.