Elsie stood in her bedroom, staring at nothing, unaware that she was wringing her hands as she contemplated her situation. He had been the one to propose to her, he had pulled her away from the Christmas celebrations and asked her to marry him. He seemed so sure then that this was what he wanted, that she was what he wanted. Why was he so hesitant now to proceed? She tried not to give in to her insecurities, but in this unfamiliar territory it was getting harder not to. There was a knock at her door. When she answered it she was surprised to see Mrs. Patmore.

"Is this where you've been hiding all day?"

"Is it obvious that's what I'm doing?"

"Well I wouldn't say you make it obvious, but you do make us all wonder where it is you get to these days. May I come in?"

"Of course" she moved aside and gestured to her friend to have a seat.

Elsie sat down and looked at Beryl's expectant face, not sure where to begin if Beryl asked her what she thought she she was going to ask her.

"You've got to talk to him."

Elsie let out a sigh "I know… the trouble is I just don't know what to say. I don't know what it is he really wants and I don't know how to get him to tell me. It just all feels so futile. So why even begin?"

"Begin because you are getting married-"

"Are we?" Elsie nearly laughed "I'm not so sure."

"Now would he have asked you if he didn't want to marry you?"

"I used to think I knew. I used to be sure that I knew him so well, but now… now that we ought to be closer than ever, I feel so very distanced from him, its making me question how well Ive ever know him at all. Have I? Or have I only been seeing what I want to see… Mrs. Patmore…" She looked into her friends eyes, wanting to pick up on even the slightest reaction, searching for truth anywhere she could find it "Do you think I pushed him into it? Do you think he regrets it now?"

Mrs. Patmore sighed so deeply that her shoulders slumped and said as much to herself as to Elsie "This is ever the trouble with romance, the men can't sort out their own emotions and go getting us all tied in knots trying to work out how it's our fault."

Elsie felt very relieved hearing those words, as if she's known their truth all along and just hadn't been able to find it in her own mind. "Why didn't I come to you sooner?" She smiled and took her friend's hand. Beryl gave her hand a squeeze and said "The one question everyone always does manage to send my way. But the question I have for you is: Which one of you is going to be the one to start the conversation? I hope you won't keep waiting around up here for that man-of all men- to finally come around. You might find yourself waiting another twenty years for heavens' sake"