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Spencer liked the idea and took Hadley’s hand in hers. The strollto Washington Boulevard and Pacific Avenue was a short one, but something aboutwalking the streets together hand in hand had Spencer warm and comfortable andfeeling close to Hadley.

“Wow,” she said, taking in the view before them once they arrived.The last bit of daylight was barely hanging on, illuminating the canals with atiny sliver of sunlight. A family of ducklings paddled along in the water,parallel to the sidewalk.

“Hey, little gentlemen,” Hadley said, sweetly. “Hope you’reenjoying your night.” She turned to Spencer. “I don’t know why I imagine thatthey’re boys, but I do. I insert little top hats onto their heads as I lookdown at them.”

“Well, who doesn’t?” Spencer said, and then passed Hadley ayou’re-a-weirdo look.

“Apparently, everyone.” Hadley knocked Spencer’s ribs slightlywith her elbow.

The ducks pressed on and so did she and Hadley. A series ofwalkways took them past a variety of interesting-looking houses, most with apaddleboat or rowboat tied up in front.

“I love coming out here,” Hadley said, surveying theirsurroundings. “I don’t do it enough.”

“Why do you like it?”

“It’s so peaceful. Don’t you think?”

“I was just going to say so.” This time, no weirdo look. Spencermeant it.

They nodded to an older couple passing on their left. The womanhad her arm linked through the man’s. Hadley looked back at them. “That rightthere is what life’s all about.”

“Sharing a nice evening out?” Spencer asked.

“No.” Hadley led them up onto one of the overarching pedestrianbridges that looked down on the canal. “Finding your person. Your one.”

“Huh,” Spencer said. She leaned her arms on the railing and lookedout. It was getting dark now. The light from the nearby lampposts glistened onthe water’s surface as the soft sound of it lapping against the bankunderscored their conversation.

“What?” Hadley asked. She mirrored Spencer’s stance over therailing and looked over at her.

“I’m just not sure I can get behind that philosophy. I think we’redrawn to a number of different people throughout our lives for differentreasons.”

Hadley frowned. “True. Until you find the one you’re meant to bewith.”

“See, I’m not sure I agree with that. Why would one be the mostimportant? I can imagine that you might meet two or three people over thecourse of your life that significantly change it. Maybe at different points.”

Hadley frowned. “Wait. What about marriage?”

“I think it screws things up, so I don’t believe in it. Take myparents. Divorced when I was younger. These are two people who get along greatnow but failed miserably within the confines of marriage. They were betterwithout it. I think we all probably are.”

Hadley straightened. “I think if I wasn’t sufficiently sober, thenI am now.” She took a defeated step back from the railing.

“What? It upsets you that I don’t believe in forever?”

Hadley took a moment before raising her gaze to Spencer’s. “Theproblem is that I do. In fact, if I were to make a list of all of the things Iwant most in life, falling in love and getting married and growing old with oneperson is at the top of my list. It’s all I’ve ever wanted, and I very muchbelieve it’s possible.”

“You’re a hopeless romantic,” Spencer said. “Not an awful thing atall.”

“But naïve.”

“Maybe a little.”

“Well, I don’t have any plans on changing. In fact, I like who Iam. You can call me unrealistic or starry-eyed all you want. Some people do.But happily ever after can be real.”

“People like tothinkit’s real. It’s a comforting idea, I admit. But if you thinkabout it, so is Santa Claus.”

“I can’t believe you just said that!” Hadley shook her head. Themetaphorical distance between them seemed to be growing by the second, but Spencerwasn’t sure there was much she could do to change that short of lying about hervalues, who she was.

“Then prove me wrong,” she said good-naturedly.