Robert and Donna entered the building, having already dropped the kids off at the farm. The pair took seats beside two old women, waiting until the guy currently at the window was finished.

                                        Robert took a look at Donna, dressed in a T-shirt bearing Michelle's alma mater across it, and a pair of faded, high-waisted jeans. She hadn't been looking back at him, instead choosing to watch a family across the room, two middle-aged parents and their three children. Two of the children, boys about the age of ten were arguing about something, as their parents tried to fill out seemingly important forms.

                                         Donna opened her pocketbook and got up, walking over to the family. Robert watched as she approached the mother and asked, "Do you need some help?" while motioning to the boys. The mother smiled warmly, appearing grateful for the offer. Donna then approached the two boys, having to kneel down to reach eye-level.

                                         "Do you two want to tell me what you're fighting about?" She asked in a gentle voice.

                                         "He hit me!" Declared one of the boys.

                                         "No, he hit me first!" Said the other.

                                         Donna reached into her pocketbook, appearing to wrap her hand around something in there. "Look your parents are trying to do something that's very important, and they need you to be quiet. Can you do that for them? Because I have something for the both of you if you can."

                                        The boys looked at each other and nodded, clearly anticipating what she had in hand.

                                       "Do you promise to be quiet for your parents?" She asked.

                                       "We promise." Said one of the boys.

                                       Donna withdrew two wrapped lollipops from her bag. They were the kind with gum in the middle. Her personal favorite. She handed them to the boys who each thanked her. The mother looked up at her gratefully and said, "Gracias."

                                        "De nada." Replied Donna, waving at the children before returning to her chair.

                                        She really was good with kids. And life repaid her by taking away her potential future and dumping her in the same gutter as Robert.

                                       "So earlier, when you told Delilah you loved me, is that true?"

                                        Donna sighed, looking down at her hands for a moment. "I think that, love is something that's hard to define. It-it comes on many different levels, and I mean I-I do feel for you." She explained with a sympathetic smile.

                                       "I guess that's fair. I, I feel for you too." He said, nodding.

                                       "I can help whoever's next," said the woman at the window, leaning towards the glass.

                                      The old woman waved her hand to tell Donna and Robert to go ahead. Donna nodded her thank you and the newlyweds headed for the window.

                                    An hour later, Robert and Donna were headed for home to drop off their new marriage certificate, now the newly married, eighteen-year-old, Beaumont-Hess couple. Donna got out of the truck and headed for the door, where a crystal vase containing twenty red roses sat on the step. She picked it up and looked at the card inside.

                                 To Mrs. Hess it had read. She smiled to herself, looking back at the truck where Robert was waiting. He'd sent her flowers just after their wedding and on the day they took each others' names. Of course it could never make up for the love that wasn't there, but it was a start...

                                  In the meantime, Robert watched Donna read the card, and then look at him.  He'd never sent her any roses but he was pretty sure he knew who did...