***Chapter 9***

"Oh, that's a photo album that I started years ago, I was going to give it to you, but decided to wait till it was all full".

"Why do you keep it up in the closet?"

"When was the last time you came in here?"

"Good point. May I?"

"Go ahead".

She opened it and saw that it started in London, when they met. He had saved the napkin from the Ritz bar, where they met. He had all of the phone messages that she had left him on that trip. He had a candid photo of the two of them that Max had taken while they were on the carriage ride, plus the petals from the flower he had given her. He even had the label from the bottle of champagne they had enjoyed. There were tons of pictures of them all throughout the years, and sweet little souvenirs from special moments between the two of them. He saved cards from flowers he sent her, wrapping paper from the first gift she gave him, tickets from concerts they attended.

He had tons of candids of her, that she didn't even know had been taken, like of her sleeping on the plane, or her at a dinner party across the room, newspaper clippings of them from the society pages. He had every card he had given her, and every card she had given him.

She turned to the last page, and there were 2 tickets that he had saved. She started reading them and saw that they were from her favorite German opera. He hated that opera, but he always took her because she loved it. She turned to face him.

"I cannot believe you did this".

"It's not finished. I need to put the pictures from your book signing, and the love note you left me when you went on the book tour in there".

She got up and went and sat on his lap.

"I cannot believe you did that. Thank you".

She kissed him.

"Darling, if it's alright with you, I would like to do one more thing today".

"What's that?"

"Move back home".

"I love you, Red".

"I love you too, Jonathan Charles. And I'm sorry I have been a little difficult lately".

"All is forgiven, it wasn't you, it was me too. You were right, I should have jumped up and ran to you and gotten you away from him the moment that you walked in the office. I don't know why I wasn't thinking about you more than I was".

"It's alright. I am here now, and I love you".

She kissed him.

"And besides, I was being stubborn too. I could have just as easily come here after I got away from them instead of the beach house, but I didn't. I told myself that you had fallen out of love with me and that was why you didn't pay the extra money."

"Jennifer, that couldn't be farther from the truth. And that will never, ever happen. Ever".

"I know. I am sorry I doubted you".

He leaned up and kissed her.

"He did it again".

"What do you mean?"

"Max. He got us together in London, and he got us back together now".

"Well, so he did".

She kissed him a few times.

"You think we can do it?"

"Do what?"

"Go on without him. He was such a huge presence here."

"Darling, we have to. It would be an insult to his legacy if we didn't".

"I agree with that. I gotta tell you, though, I can't do it without you, and I don't want to do it with anyone else".

"I am so glad to hear you say that".

They both looked at the framed picture of Max that was on the bed.

"Thanks, Max. We owe you one".

"We sure do".

***Epilogue***

On a warm spring day, at the beginning of May, Jonathan and Jennifer loaded the car up and drove down to Santa Clarita.

They placed their bets, and grabbed a couple drinks, and then walked over to the rose garden. As soon as they heard the trumpets begin to play and saw the horses lining up, Jennifer handed the small vial to Jonathan. He opened the top.

"For you, Max".

He spread his ashes evenly and quickly.

Jennifer put the container back in her purse, and they went to the stands to watch the race.

"Who did you bet on darling?"

"A few different ones. Red-haired beauty".

"Same".

"Seascape".

"Oh, I got that one too".

"And the final one was, Royal Flush".

"You bet on Royal Flush? I did too… just seemed appropriate".

"It certainly did".

Almost 3 minutes later, Royal Flush squeaked across the finish line by almost half a length.

Jennifer didn't say anything. She just wiped the tears from her eyes.

Jonathan wiped his and pinched the bridge of his nose.

He held her hand as they walked to the claim window.

"What's next?"

"The roses in the backyard, when they start blooming".

He nodded and kissed her.

They got home later that afternoon, and just before dinner, as she always did, Jennifer went out to the rose garden.

This time, for the first time since Max had died, there were buds on each rose.

She would do it tomorrow. Or maybe the next day. After the buds were a little bigger.

She was looking at the rose on the far end. This one was named the Everlasting Love rose. It looked to be a red rose, with a white swirl in the very center. She moved on to the Double Hart rose, which appeared to be a two-toned pink one.

Finally, she was looking at the Jennifer Hart rose.

"Oh Max, I wish I had a sign that you were still with us. We are both so broken hearted over losing you. We love you and miss you so much".

Just then, right before her very eyes, the Jennifer Hart rose broke into full bloom.

Jennifer smiled, and wiped the tears from her eyes, and headed back to the house.