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ill?”
    “He cannot live long.”
    Tyler shook his head. “I’m sorry to hear that.”
    “Tell me more about yourself, Mr. Winslow,” she said, obviously wanting to change the subject.
    “Like I said, I’m studying to be a painter.” He took another bite of his chicken, savoring the flavor. Jolie turned her full attention to Tyler and began to ask him questions about his art. Tyler soon found that she knew as much about art history as he did. He found himself in awe of the combination of beauty and intelligence that she possessed.
    As the two continued to talk, Tyler started telling Jolie about some of his problems with his parents and some of his bad behavior. “Hey, that’s enough about me,” he said. He wiped his mouth and put his napkin on his empty plate.
    “Yes, it’s time to go. I have to see to my father.” She paid for her own dinner and thanked Gregorio for the fabulous meal.
    When they were outside, Tyler said, “I’d like to see you again.”
    “No, I don’t think so.”
    “Maybe we could go to an art gallery or something.”
    “I don’t think I’d like to do that.”
    He was puzzled. “What’s the matter?”
    “I’d rather not say.”
    “It’s not hard to see. You don’t like me.”
    “Mr. Winslow, we’re not going in the same direction. It would be pointless for us to try to see each other.”
    “Why?”
    “I will not date a man I wouldn’t consider marrying,” she said quietly, “and the man I marry must be strong. You are not a strong man. Good night.” She turned and walked toward the hospital.
    Tyler stared at her, feeling his anger build, but as he started in the opposite direction, he thought, “Actually, I guess she’s right about that.” It was a discouraging thought, and he kept his eyes down in shame.

CHAPTER THREE
    An Unwanted Good-bye
    As October slowly passed, Tyler threw himself into his work at school almost in a frenzy. He had not heard from his parents, so he knew Chance had not informed them of his actions, which pleased him but at the same time made him feel guilty for keeping things from them. He felt like he had when as a boy he had hidden a misdeed from his parents.
    For two weeks he steadfastly kept at his work, staying up late and rising early. Only three times did he go out with Caroline, which upset her. She did not understand his new work ethic any more than Tyler himself understood it, but she put his reluctance to spend more time with her down as a mark against her own charms. As a matter of fact, she had found herself falling in love with Tyler, which even surprised Caroline. Her father and mother were not happy about the situation, for they saw nothing in Tyler that could appeal to them as a son-in-law, but they knew they had spoiled their daughter to the point that she was difficult to reason with.
    As hard as he tried, Tyler could not forget what Jolie Vernay had told him after they had dined at Gregorio’s. “The man I marry must be strong. You are not a strong man.”
    More than once, after Tyler went to bed, that scene came rolling before him almost like a motion picture. He remembered the tone of her voice and the look of disdain in her eyes, and for hours he would toss in bed vacillating between dislike and desire.
    There was something inexplicable in Jolie Vernay that drewhim. Perhaps it was her clean beauty, but more likely it was the old story of the moth being drawn to the candle. She had hurt him and humiliated him with her words and with her attitude, but that did not seem to matter. More and more he began to grow introspective, and even when he worked for long hours on a painting, trying to blot out the memory of her words, they would come floating back to him.
    In truth, Tyler Winslow had always been somewhat successful with women. He had never been seriously attached to any of his girlfriends, although he had fancied himself so a few times. His rugged good looks, quick intelligence, and cheerful wit appealed to women, and