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Elena nodded, dazed herself. Not in public, she was thinking. And not when Bonnie and Meredith<br />
were waiting downstairs. And not when they were absolutely alone, unless…<br />
"But you can just hold me," she said.<br />
How odd, that after that passion she could feel so safe, so peaceful, in his arms. "I love you," she<br />
whispered into the rough wool of his sweater.<br />
She felt a quiver go through him. "Elena," he said again, and it was a sound almost of despair.<br />
She raised her head. "What's wrong with that? What could possibly be wrong with that, Stefan?<br />
Don't you love me?"<br />
"I…" He looked at her, helplessly – and they heard Mrs. Flowers's voice calling faintly from the<br />
bottom of the stairs.<br />
"Boy! Boy! Stefan!" It sounded as if she were pounding on the banister with her shoe.<br />
Stefan sighed. "I'd better go see what she wants." He slipped away from her, his face unreadable.<br />
Left alone, Elena folded her arms across her chest and shivered. It was so cold here. He ought to<br />
have a fire, she thought, eyes moving idly around the room to rest finally on the mahogany dresser<br />
she'd examined last night.<br />
The coffer.<br />
She glanced at the closed door. If he came back in and caught her… She really shouldn't – but she<br />
was already moving toward the dresser.<br />
Think of Bluebeard's wife, she told herself. Curiosity killed her. But her fingers were on the iron<br />
lid. Her heart beating rapidly, she eased the lid open.<br />
In the dim light, the coffer appeared at first to be empty, and Elena gave a nervous laugh. What had<br />
she expected? Love letters from Caroline? A bloody dagger?<br />
Then she saw the thin strip of silk, folded over and over on itself neatly in one corner. She drew it<br />
out and ran it between her fingers. It was the apricot ribbon she'd lost the second day of school.<br />
Oh, Stefan. Tears stung her eyes, and in her chest love welled up helplessly, overflowing.<br />
That long ago? You cared about me that long ago? Oh, Stefan, I love you…<br />
And it doesn't matter if you can't say it to me, she thought. There was a sound outside the door, and<br />
she folded the ribbon quickly and replaced it in the coffer. Then she turned toward the door, blinking<br />
tears from her eyes.<br />
It doesn't matter if you can't say it right now. I'll say it for both of us. And someday you'll learn.
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