Regret Came Too Late

In Ethan's sight, a slim silhouette broke through the sea of white, the crimson flower in her hand burning like a tiny flame.

Grace went into the car, shaking the snow from her hair before pulling the door shut.

She immediately held out the magnolia to him.

Ethan didn't reach for it. His gaze stayed locked on the petals, on the snow melting slowly there.

Grace thought he hesitated because of the cold and leaned in to brush the snow away, only to be stopped by his question.

"What if this tree belonged to someone else?"

Without missing a beat, she answered, "When I pick them, they become yours."

Just as Ethan reached out, her words caught him off guard. His hand curled into a fist, and the veins on the back became rigid.

Grace, noticing his strange reaction, quickly asked, "What's wrong?"

He ducked his head and hummed quietly before taking the magnolia carefully.

"Thank you," he added in a soft voice.

Grace could tell that his mood had brightened.

She scrambled to the driver's seat, starting the car with quick, nervous moments, afraid he would change his mind and ask for something else.

As the car kicked into gear, the soft fragrance of magnolias from the back seat brushed against her senses.

"Do you like magnolias, Mr. Henderson? How special. Most people just see the winter's blank whiteness, but hidden inside... there's this bold flash of red, like..."

Realizing her words might be stepping over a line, she clamped her mouth shut. Ethan was a lot like winter itself. On the surface, he was cold and unapproachable -yet the moment he fell sick, he asked for flowers.

The contrast was almost ridiculous.

"I do," he said softly. "No one's ever given me any."

He sounded a little stronger now, and Grace was glad she hadn't brushed him off.

At least he seemed more like himself again.

smiled faintly and floored the

we get a signal, you should call your people at Druville and have them send a helicopter. With the roads blocked, there's no way out. And you're still running a fever; I'd rather not risk

worried about

Her smile faltered.

him right now—not bad, just... unfamiliar. Wasn't it normal to be

Henderson. I can't just

to show for the trip. Her fingers tightened

nothing but ruins. If you had told us ahead

have dragged you all the way out here while you

nose,

"I didn't know."

Grace went silent immediately.

couldn't blame someone for what they didn't

once, remembered it, and never

glanced into the rearview mirror,

the flower, gently swinging it back and forth, clearly in a good

to

sinkhole. I remember talking about it with my boyfriend once when we were kids, we got

was so sudden and patchy, she couldn't

would have to

his eyes, his Adam's apple

many people appreciate magnolias. Your boyfriend had good

sidelong look, a soft

that your way of complimenting

Ethan's grip tightened-hard enough to almost

himself and let

Grace then that what

might have

She rushed to add, "I

too. You and my boyfriend you both have great taste."

lowered his gaze, running a light

you should stay with him

nothing, eyes locked

to contact his