The wake was being held at Julie's home and the tight quarters are fairly uncomfortable. Most of the guests took advantage of the nice weather and started roaming out into the back yard and Julie was thankful that she had planted roses earlier in the year because they were now blooming proudly and were a fine contrast to the sadness of the day.

"How are you mom?" Kaitlin hated to see her mother sad and had watched her crying silently before Julie and Frank had left for the service; Kaitlin had only stayed behind to watch over William—Frank hadn't wanted the boy to see death so early in his life. "Can I make you a sandwich?"

"No thank you sweetie—I'm okay." She excused herself so she could say hello to a guest that had just arrive and Kaitlin watched as her mother switched into the mode of a hostess. The girl had been barely home from Williams for a week when Dr. Roberts died and it made her miss her boyfriend very much. She had heard that death always made one long for human contact and animal passions, and it was certainly true for her now. Dr Roberts had for a short period of time been a father-figure, or at least an attempted one, and even though she had never cared for the man, he had been kind to Julie and a loving father for Summer and she hated to see people she love go through such an unspeakable pain.

"Hey Kaitlin." It was Taylor, newly arrived from France and worse for the wear. "How are you?" The girl hugged Kaitlin and for Kaitlin it seemed like she had stepped back in time, when everyone still lived in Newport.

"I'm fine—how are you? How is France?"

"Great—I just finished school."

"That's good. Are you back in America for good?"

"No—I'm only here for a couple of days and then I'm off to Germany." Her two American friends had invited her to spend the summer in Germany with them and so Taylor and her mother—once she was back from an emergency meeting in Phoenix—were going to meet up with Trevor and Adam and take a leisurely journey through the German nation. "You should meet up with us in Berlin."

"Can't—summer school." Kaitlin had no real desire to go anywhere with Taylor and her mother, little alone Germany, but it was a nice offer nonetheless. "Have you seen Ryan and Rose?"
"They came in with Seth and Summer and I think they went straight upstairs to put Summer to bed."

"She was pretty bad today—she could use some sleep." The two girls wandered over to the soda bottles in silence and Kaitlin mumbled a thank-you as Taylor poured the girl out some soda. "Was it weird seeing Ryan again?"

"No—not really. I mean, it was a little awkward at first, but I'm sure it'll be fine." Taylor was not surprised at the initial awkwardness between them, but when she had run into him after the service, she had been surprised by how comfortable she had felt being near him and talking to him. "I really hope we can be friends after all that I did."

"He's the forgiving sort." There was no need for Taylor to ask if he was happy with Rose. Summer had told her a little about the relationship but the one thing she never failed to mention was that they were happy together; Taylor was glad for it. They had both survived the break up fine and Taylor was very pleased and proud of the life she had carved out for herself in France. "I'll be right back—I have to go tell Frank something."

Kaitlin scampered off and Taylor stood silently drinking her soda, watching people come in and out of the living room. Some wore sad faces, some wore happy ones. Her own heart was depressed and lonely. It was strange being back in Newport and though she was looking forward to her summer in Germany, the fact that she had no real plans for the future unnerved her. Could she come back to America? Could she come back to Newport and all this? A part of her really wanted to stay and live the rest of her life in Paris, but another part of her missed Summer and her mother horribly. As she thought about Ryan and what they once shared, she knew she missed him terribly too.

"Hey I was looking for you." Ryan Atwood, the man she had once loved, was there before her. "I wanted to talk to you."

"I wanted to talk to you too." She flashed her brilliant smile and put down her soda as Ryan led her out of the living room and into the backyard, near the rose bushes.

"They're pretty aren't they?"

"They remind me of the botanical garden in San Francisco."

"Yea—that's what I thought of when I first saw them." That day was etched vividly in his mind—it had been such a beautiful day and when they had walked along the roses, Ryan had thought there was not a more perfect girl in the world than Taylor. "I'm really glad that you came."

"I wish it was for a better reason." The smell of the roses was decedent and fell heavy on her nostrils. "How's school?"

"One more year."

"Are you excited about being a senior?"

"I guess-I have a lot more years to go."

"Same with me." Though she didn't know where or when she was going to go to school, she knew that she wanted to get her Master's and Doctoral degrees in Psychology.

"Do you want to be a psychologist still?"

"Or a relationship counselor."

"You'd be good at that." A large, fat, bumble bee lighted down on a rose and sat quietly for a moment or two before taking off again. The buzzing of the bee filled Taylor's ear. "I kind of want to get out of Berkeley and go to school in L.A.

"UCLA?"

"Southern." They had one of the best graduate architecture programs in the state and Ryan's grades were certainly good enough. "Are you going to stay in America now that you're done?"

"No—I'm going with some friends for the summer to Germany. My mom is coming as far as Berlin and then going back. We might spend the autumn in Vienna." Ryan laughed and Taylor's hazel eyes flashed in amusement. "What?"

"You've always been the traveler. How many places have you been?"

"Greece and Turkey that first year." She started to count with her fingers and she relived the past. "Then Rome—Spain and Portugal over Easter break, the Italian Alps for a week—I tried to learn skiing—and now Germany and possibly Vienna."

"You've seen a lot."

"I have haven't I?" Her hazel eyes drew Ryan into her and for the first time he realized that she still had a power over him.

"You sound happy."

"I am happy—very happy. You sound happy too."

"I am. Rose is very sweet. How about you, any men?"

"No—no one serious since you actually."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't be—I'm not." The girl laughed and Ryan was again struck how that laugh, that smile of hers and those brilliant hazel eyes could move him. "My life in Europe is a good one and I don't have regrets. Do you?"

"Only one."

"Oh?"

"That I cut you off the way I did."

"It was my fault." Neither wanted to look about at that time. They had come to a precipice and neither side wanted to take that leap. The words lay unspoken in the warm summer air. "I want to ask you something."

"What?"

"May I write to you? While I'm in Germany I mean."

"Yes—I was going to ask you the same thing."

"You can write to my Paris address—all my mail gets forwarded from them—I probably won't be around too many computers but I really want to stay in touch."

"I do too." She grabbed him hand and squeezed it very tightly.

"I've missed you a lot."

"I did too—I didn't realize it until now."

"Same with me." She grasped his hand for a second longer and then let go. She was about to ask where Rose was when Seth appeared from inside the house and called for Taylor. Summer couldn't sleep and wanted to see Taylor—she had been asking for her all day.

"I guess I should go." The girl gave Ryan a sad smile and she looked very tired for a moment. "Do I look any different?"

"As beautiful as ever." He hadn't meant to say those words, but they came out of his mouth before he had time to check himself. Taylor liked that and as she walked inside the house, she turned him and gave him that pretty look that he had fallen in love with so long ago.