The Doctor's Family Reunion. Mindy Obenhaus

a deep breath, she reached for it, her pulse racing. She laid it in the palm of her hand, carefully, as if it were a bomb that might detonate at any second. Finally, she lifted the hinged lid and stared at the set of artist brushes.

      A card with white tulips, her favorite flower, lay on top. She opened it and read.

      

      

      Dear Blakely. These aren’t as romantic as diamonds or pearls, but the sentiment is still the same. I hope you’ll think of me every time you use them, until we can be together again.

      Love, Trent.

      

      

      She returned the card to the box, allowing her fingertips to linger over the soft bristles. Knowing Trent had spent his hard-earned money—money that was supposed to go toward college—warmed her heart, the same way it had the day he’d given them to her.

      She’d used them once.

      Her gaze fell back to the larger box. Tucked against one side was a small, square canvas. She reached for it, then hesitated. With a bolstering breath, she latched on to the oil painting and turned it around.