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who sent them?”
    “How would I do that?”
    Tom examined the card carefully looking for the florist’s name. “Nothing on the card. Maybe someone saw who delivered them. Ask Ben. He loves you. In fact, they could be from him.”
    “I highly doubt the security guard is sending me roses,” Sarah replied, thinking of the man who’d always been a good friend and treated her more like a little sister. “I’m not going to that much trouble to figure it out, Tom. Anyway, I’ll leave them here tonight and get them Monday when I come back for rehearsal.”
    “I’m just saying you should find out who this guy is.”
    “Why do you care so much?”
    “I care because I worry about my dizzy blonde sister who has tons of talent and no common sense…and no boyfriend.”
    “Wow,” Sarah cried. “That wasn’t very nice.”
    “But was it true?”
    “Get out, Tom,” she laughed pushing her little brother away then pulling him in for a tight hug. “Thanks for coming.”
    “I wouldn’t have missed it. You played the shit out of Tchaikovsky.”
    “Thank you. No one can deliver a compliment quite like you. Now go. It’s still Saturday night. Go have fun.”
    “Oh, by the way, have you seen the billboard outside the concert hall?” Tom asked with a huge grin.
    “No,” she replied. “Why?”
    “Well, I’d tell you not to get a big head, but I think it’s too late.”
    “Huh?”
    Tom kissed his sister on the cheek. “There’s no way your head could be any bigger than they made it on that billboard.”
    “Get out,” Sarah laughed as the door closed behind him.
    The roses filled the air with a sweet smell and she breathed in deeply as she reached behind to unzip her gown and go home. Before dropping the dress to the floor, she paused, placing her hands on the table, releasing the tension in her shoulders along with the air in her lungs.
    “Bravo, Sarah,” she breathed to her reflection. “Alone. Again.”

Monday, January 27 th
    L exi pulled the early Monday morning shift, as was her usual. She’d had an interesting weekend consisting of one party with her roommates and three very sweet and funny texts from Tom Brooks. She’d decided it was going to become increasingly hard to turn down his requests for her time and attention.
    “Good morning, Lex,” Mike sang as he rushed through the front door. “How was your weekend?”
    “Good morning, Mike.” Lexi shook her head at the man’s usual gruff attitude turned blissful. “What can I get started for you?”
    “A new life. Today I’m starting a new life.”
    “Does the new life include your usual café breve?”
    Lexi picked up a cup and began to write Mike’s order on the outside with her Sharpie as he stood smiling like a kid on Christmas.
    “Are you gonna fill me in on this new lease you have on life?”
    Mike paused at Lexi’s question, almost bursting inside to tell her about his weekend. He paced the floor of the coffee shop going over the newest plans he’d made for Sarah. This morning, his courier would be delivering to the rehearsal hall another purple rose, along with his note – his very classical note.
    Mike didn’t know much about music but he had a favorite classical composer – Beethoven. He was passionate and Mike hoped aligning himself with the virtuoso who’d written many musical pieces and letters in honor of the women he loved, would peak Sarah’s interest – at least until he had the nerve to come forward.
    “Mike?” Lexi asked, breaking his train of thought. “Are you gonna fill me in?”
    “Not today,” Mike replied.
    “Does this have anything to do with Sarah Brooks?”
    Mike’s mouth turned up, forming a sneaky grin that in turn lit up his face.
    “You’re really surprising, you know?”
    “Am I?”
    “Here’s your coffee, Mr. Montgomery. Mr. Sneaky Montgomery,” she smiled. “You know, you could just wait for her. Speak with her. She just might come in this morning.”
    “I’m not ready.”
    “Okay