A blustery cold front littered the entire southeastern part of the country with unexpected thick and icy snow that winter. Amalia bundled up in her father"s old black and gray parka, three sizes too large. It comforted her and kept the wind from spreading the chill to her bones. She"d been home from college for just over two weeks, grateful at passing all her classes with high marks, but disillusioned Carter still hadn"t called since their disastrous last day on campus. She was certain his lack of communication meant he"d planned a sweeping end to their relationship when he finally returned from Europe. No other explanations were plausible in her weakened state.
Despite the freezing temperatures, Amalia settled into the swinging chair hanging from the front porch ceiling. She"d scraped of
