(Café at Fox Books)

"So what was her reaction when she saw you?" Kevin asked. "Was she surprised?"

Joe took a sip of his coffee. "She was surprised all right. In fact, she cried."

Kevin put down his mug in surprise. "Wait a minute... she actually cried?"

"Yeah. At first I was afraid that she was disappointed."

Kevin laughed. "Can you blame her?"

"Not at all... Not after that fiasco at Café Lalo. I should have never gone in there. I was horrible, Kevin; just horrible. You should have seen her face. She was heartbroken."

"Why didn't you just tell her the truth?"

"I couldn't. She would have never believed me, and even if she did, it would have been a huge disappointment. I couldn't do that to her, Kevin. I've hurt her enough for a million lifetimes."

"Well obviously if she cried she must have been happy that it was you, right?"

Joe smiled. "Yeah, she was happy. In fact, I don't think I've ever seen a woman that happy before."

"What about you?" Kevin asked.

"What about me?" Joe asked with a hint of annoyance.

"Are you happy? Because you look like you're in love." Kevin pointed out.

Joe gazed around the massive bookstore, pretending to find interest in the steady stream of customers.

"Would you look at that, Kevin?" He said, with a sweep of his hand. "Now this is why I got into the book business... to enrich people's lives through literature."

Kevin laughed and rolled his eyes.

"Come on, Man! You got into the business because your dad wouldn't let you play center for the Nicks!"

"He never said I couldn't, Kevin!" Joe retorted. "He said I was just- Oh, never mind."

"Too short, I know..." Kevin added. "You never answered my question."

"Which was?"

"Are you happy?"

When Joe looked away, Kevin laughed. "You know what? You don't even have to answer that. I can see it all over your face. You're in love."

Unable to deny it, Joe smiled. "Yeah, I guess I am."

"So marry her!" Kevin exclaimed. "What are you waiting for?"

"Kevin! I can't just marry someone at the drop of a hat!" Joe said.

"Why not? You said you'd be crazy not to marry her if she was 'as good looking as a mailbox'. Believe me, if I had a mailbox that fine, I'd keep that thing enshrined in plastic!"

"Well, yeah, but-."

"Okay, you win." Kevin said. "But if you're not going to marry her, you should at least do something special for her. Women love that stuff."

Joe smiled. "You know something, Kevin? You're absolutely right. I should do something for her. And I know just the perfect thing."