Anna Meets Her Match by Arlene James

is that for?”
    Anna’s heart sped up when Reeves’s gaze met hers. For me? she thought, swallowing a gasp.
    “To thank you,” he said, as if he’d read her mind.
    Odelia squeaked like a mouse. Magnolia shot her sister an oddly triumphant glance as she turned away, laden with goodies for the kitchen. It was Hypatia’s calm, warm smile that helped Anna reach forward with trembling fingers to gather in the box of assorted chocolates and the card.
    “H-happy Valentine’s,” she managed just as Gilli, who had dispensed with her card and been busily tearing the cellophane off her box, spilled pieces of candy across her father’s lap.
    “Whoa!” he said, frowning, but then Gilli threw her arms around his neck, her mouth stuffed with the one piece of chocolate she’d managed to get her hands on. His expression froze, but the poignancy that shone from his brown eyes squeezed Anna’s foolish heart.
    Suddenly, she felt like that needy little girl again, the one who would do anything to be noticed, to prove that she was wanted. Slightly panicked and feeling terribly conspicuous, Anna shot to her feet, juggling her portfolio with Reeves’s shocking gift. She hadn’t even read the card yet. Curiosity all but burned a hole in her brain, but she could not bring herself to open that envelope in company.
    “I—I have to run. It’s been…” For one horrible moment, her mind went totally blank, but then Reeves dropped his gaze, beginning to help Gilli pick up the candy pieces and return them to the box. As if released from some invisible grip, Anna’s thoughts began to whir again. “It’s been quite a morning.”
    “Oh, don’t hurry off, Anna Miranda dear,” Odelia urged.
    “Actually,” Reeves put in, his gaze carefully averted, “I think she prefers to be called just plain Anna these days.” His eyes met hers then. “Isn’t that so, Anna?”
    For some insane reason she said, “All my best friends do.C-call me Anna, that is.” She could have kicked herself for saying such an inane thing. “I—I really have to go.”
    “I’ll walk you out,” Hypatia said, starting to rise.
    “No, no.” Anna moved swiftly toward the entry hall. “I know the way. Enjoy your tea before it gets cold. I’ll be in touch.”
    She practically ran from the room, relieved that Hypatia sank back down into her chair. As she made her escape, one crazy notion kept circulating through Anna’s mind. Reeves Leland had bought her a Valentine’s Day gift. Reeves Leland had bought her a Valentine’s Day gift.
    Her heart pounding, she rushed home to her apartment and feverishly let herself inside. Tossing her keys into a bowl atop a plant stand near the door, she dumped the portfolio in the single chair that comprised her living room furniture before carrying the card and candy box to the drawing board that took up the majority of the space. Carefully, Anna peeled back the flap of the envelope and pulled the card free.
    It was a thank-you card.
    Tamping down her disappointment, she peeled the cellophane from the candy box and lifted off the lid. She popped a chocolate piece into her mouth. As orange cream melted on her tongue, she mused that at least the card had a heart of pink lace and a bouquet of yellow and blue flowers on the front. Plus, to be fair, the sentiment was appropriate. She opened the card and read it aloud around the remnants of the chocolate.
    “You did a thoughtful thing when you didn’t have to, and your efforts are greatly appreciated. God bless you.” It was signed, “Reeves Kyle Leland.”
    The doofus had signed it with his full name, as if there might have been another Reeves in the room. Why were men so stupid? Every man she had ever known was clueless, not that she’d known very many.
    Anna picked another candy from the box and let herthumb sink into its middle, cracking the chocolate shell to reveal the pink cream inside. The faint aroma of strawberries teased her nose. She slipped the candy into her