Read a Romance!

Emma and Joel had broken up . . . but was it really over?

You should have answered the door, Emma,” said Rachel, as she returned with a small parcel in her hands. “The delivery guy was cute.”

“Is that an unsubtle hint you think I should be dating again?”

“Well, it has been three months since you and Joel broke up. Don’t you think it’s time to dip your toes in the dating scene again?”

“I’m happy being single.” That wasn’t quite true, of course. If there were any chance Joel and I could reunite, I’d take it. But circumstances meant our lives were like two puzzle pieces that didn’t fit together, no matter how much we wanted them to.

His voice softened, “There will only ever be one of you

“Happy? Then why don’t you ever smile anymore? I know it’s not because of Mom— she’s going to be fine, even if she does still need our help for a long while.”

It’s true. Mom’s operation was a success, but while there was some uncertainty, Joel was there for me. He was a solid shoulder to lean on, one of the many reasons I fell in love with him. I was beginning to see a future with him. Only then his work gave him the opportunity of a lifetime. A promotion. Unfortunately, that meant a transfer to the other side of the country. And although we tried to work out a solution, it always ended with the same conclusion: I couldn’t leave, and he couldn’t stay. Was it any wonder I didn’t smile?

“Who’s the package for?” Changing the subject seemed the best option. It still hurt to talk about Joel.

“It’s for you from an online games and puzzle store.”

“It must be a mistake, I haven’t bought anything.”

I tore it open, and inside was a bag of jigsaw pieces in a clear plastic bag. “Now I definitely know I didn’t order this. There’s no box or photo to tell me what the finished picture will be. I’d never buy something like that.”

Frowning, I looked at the purchase order . . . and my heart skipped a beat. Joel had bought the present and addressed it to me.

We had been trying to do the “let’s stay friends” thing with occasional texts and e-mails. But sometimes I think we should have just made a clean break, with no contact at all. It was so sweet of him to give me a gift, but it just made dealing with our split even harder.

“Another puzzle?” Rachel teased. “Aren’t the 20 or so you have already enough?”

“Joel knows there’s no such thing as too many.” We had met at our local games and puzzle store. I was looking to fill in the days and weeks while Mom recuperated after her operation. Joel was looking for a gift for his niece.

I spread the puzzle pieces over the table. “Starting already?” Rachel said.

“I’m curious to know what the picture is.”

“It’s 300 pieces—it will take a while to find out.”

I always started with the edges of a puzzle, creating a frame, and this one had me stumped from the start. I eventually worked out why. I had been trying to make the edges into a rectangle, but as I shifted pieces and worked out which ones joined, I realized the shape wasn’t what I was expecting at all—it was a heart.

In between giving Mom her medicine and meals, I worked on the puzzle, and the more I filled in, the more I discovered the picture was a photo of Joel and me together. There was a message as well. The words “will” and “you” started forming. I stayed up until midnight to finish, then called him immediately.

“You must have finished the puzzle,” he said, the sleepiness leaving his voice straight away.

“I did. But, I don’t understand. We broke up because we’re so far apart. That won’t change.”

“Yes, it will. Since I’ve been here, it’s become obvious that there will always be plenty of jobs,” his voice softened, “but there will only ever be one of you. I’m making arrangements to come home.”

“Home.” And just like that our lives fit together.

“You haven’t answered the question,” said Joel.

I stared at his gift. A puzzle solved. I smiled. “Yes, I will— I’ll marry you!”