As the day became night, Jennifer was getting dressed for her night in the town with Paul. She waited for Paul to come to her house. Lillie knew if the spell worked, Paul would end up in her arms. Lillie began cooking dinner for the two of them. Hamburger Steak, Baked Potato, Mushroom Gravy, Bacon wrapped Asparagus seasoned with Rosemary, Homemade Yeast Rolls and Homemade Red Velvet Cake. As Jennifer was getting ready for her night, the telephone rang. It was her mother, Anita. They took her little sister Susie to the hospital with difficulty breathing. Jennifer dropped the phone from her hand. Her face was running with tears. She ran out the door to her car. She cried the entire time she was driving to the Hospital. Paul picked up Jennifer for their evening out and she was not home. Paul called Jennifer on the phone to see how long she would be. Jennifer explained that her sister Susie had taken ill, and she would be out of town. 

Paul then left and drove to see Lillie. When he knocked on the door, she knew it was him. Lillie had been waiting for him to arrive. She strolled to the door and opened it. Then pretended to be surprised to see him. She invited him to come in and share her dinner. Paul entered the dining room and sat in the chair at the end of the table. They reserved the chair for him. She allowed no one to sit in that chair except her beloved Paul. She had been working in the kitchen for hours to prepare the special meal. The meal for the lover. A meal he would never forget. As he took a bite of the Hamburger Steak, it filled his mouth with the luscious flavor of the steak. As he ate the piece of steak, he could smell the bacon and rosemary from the Asparagus. The aroma in the room reminded him of the meals his mother would prepare for his father. A meal that was prepared with the hands of a loving woman. He knew Lillie had loved him since high school. He no longer loved her. His affections were now for Jennifer, the beautiful young maiden. 

While Jennifer was sitting in the waiting room with Anita. They were waiting for a word from the Pediatrician. The gift shop in the hospital delivered a Red Rose to her. The card attached said. “Forever in my thoughts. Signed Steve.” She then remembered seeing the painting crying and later holding a red rose. She was crying when she received the call from Anita. While at the Hospital she received the Red Rose. She wondered how the painting was so closely connected to her life. The Pediatrician entered the waiting room. Little Susie had an upper respiratory infection. The respiratory infection had caused Susie to have a severe asthma attack. They admitted Susie to the hospital to get treatment. They could visit Susie. They placed her in an oxygen tent. They would not be allowed to hold or touch her. When Jennifer entered the room and saw the oxygen tent the condensation had spelled out “Rose Garden Plantation.” She was the only person in the room to see the condensation. She remembered getting the telephone call from Lillie who lived on Rose Garden Plantation.  She sits in the chair beside Susie and cried. Susie was asleep and could not see the tears flowing down her cheek. 

Paul thought of Jennifer and wanted to call and check on her. Lillie knew immediately that he was thinking of her. He had a headache. She offered him a white powdery substance for the headache. He asked her, “How did you know? I just started getting the headache.” She responded, “When a woman loves a man, she can tell when something is wrong.” She never let him know she found out about Jennifer. He took the white powder, placed it into his mouth. He felt dizzy. She then insisted that he lay down in her bed and rest. As he lay in her bed, she started gently started massaging his temples. Suddenly, she was rubbing his head, and he fell asleep. While he was sleeping, she sat in the bed beside him. She whispered in his ear. I love you and your pretty will pay for coming between us. He was asleep and did not hear what she said. 

Paul began dreaming of his beautiful young maiden. They were walking on the beach. Waves were crashing on the shore. The seagulls were soaring in the sky. The dolphins were jumping and playing. Paul took Jennifer by her hand and walked toward the bridge. The bridge crossed the bay to the small tropical island in the middle of the bay. While crossing the bridge, it shook and sway. The small boards of the bridge were clanging against each other. The bridge was high above the bay. He saw the rope holding the bridge together fray. He tried desperately to make it to the shore. As he stepped on the shore, the bridge snapped. The ropes were breaking. Jennifer was still on the bridge. He reached out to grab her hand and pull her ashore. She was falling into the water below and he suddenly woke up from his nightmare. He got up out of bed and walked through the house, looking for Lillie. He found her in the studio painting on a canvas. She was painting a scene of a beautiful tropical island with a couple sitting on the beach. The couple were Jennifer and Steve. He did not know how to react to seeing the painting of his beloved Jennifer in the arms of another man. Paul then wondered if Lillie knew Jennifer. Lillie had put a spell on the painting. The painting was not actually of Jennifer; it was a figure of a woman and man. Paul hugged Lillie goodnight as he departed to return to his home. 

Lillie had plans to take the painting to the Art Gallery the next morning. She wanted Jennifer to see the painting. Jennifer returned to work the next day. They had released little Susie from the hospital. When she arrived at the Gallery, Steve was waiting for her. Steve had bought her a six red roses. A rose for everyday he had known her. Steve was desperately in love with her. Jennifer explained to Steve that she was in a relationship with someone special. Steve then replied, “You are the first thing I think about in the morning when I open my eyes. You are the last thing I think about at night. You are all I think about all day. Seeing the smile on your face sends a warm feeling into my heart. When I am with you, I feel great. I feel happy when I am with you. I can be a peace by sitting next to you. The reason I wake up every morning is to see you. You are the love of my life. I never felt this way toward anyone. You are my soul mate. If you just give me a chance, I will love you like no other. At night, I will draw your bath water. I will rub your feet and massage them when they hurt. I will always be there to wipe your tears away and put a smile on your face. You are the sparkle that lights my world. If you would only let me. I will show you more love than anyone has ever known. I will treat you like a queen. My darling, I love you. I have loved you since the first time I saw you. I will love you more than any man can love you. Please, just give me a chance.” 

Lillie had taken the painting to the Gallery and left it on display. Jennifer walked by the painting and saw her and Steve sitting on the beach with a drink in their hand. She thought Steve had brought the painting in the Gallery. She had had no one to act that way toward her before. He was simply a lonely old man looking for attention. He was old enough to be her grandfather. She thought he acted that way towards her because she reminded him of his late wife. Paul walked into the Gallery and Steve departed. He noticed that the painting was the one Lillie had painted in the studio. Paul was afraid to say anything to Jennifer about it. She would realize that he was still in a relationship with Lillie. Paul was afraid of what would happen if Lillie and Jennifer found out about each other. 

Lillie was preparing for the standing Friday Night date with Paul. She was cooking his favorite dinner. They filled the dining room with candles. They set the table with her finest China. The glasses were crystal. In the middle of the table was a floral arrangement made with red and white roses. Lillie knew Paul was going to end their relationship. The roses were perfect for the night to come. Red roses for Blood, and white roses for tears. She hoped that when he saw the table was elegant and the red and white roses as the centerpiece, he would not carry out his plans. She wanted him to believe that the red roses were for love and the white roses were for unity. Paul knocked on the door and was met by Lillie. They entered the dining room to share their dinner. Paul looked at the table and knew that the plans he had for the night were nothing compared to Lillie’s. Paul wanted to tell her about Jennifer before she found out from someone else. Lillie was hoping for a romantic evening. He knew he could not tell her it would break her heart, and he did not know what would happen next. During dinner, Paul reached into the centerpiece to give Lillie a red rose. As he reached over and handed her the rose, the thorn had stuck into his hand. His hand was dripping with small drops of blood. Lillie ran into the bathroom to get the bandage from the medicine cabinet. While she was in the bathroom, she made an ointment to put on his finger. This was no ordinary ointment they made it to include an aphrodisiac. 

When Lillie went into the dining room, she placed the ointment on the wound. Lillie then placed the bandage around his finger. She cradled his hand and kissed it. She was attempting to show compassion, loving, tender care to him. Paul’s finger burned. He was in pain. A wound from a thorn would never hurt the way it was. She knew the ointment had worked. She had the night she hungered for with Paul. He cradled her face in his hand and kissed her. She felt the love was still there between them. He took her by the hand and lead her to the bedroom. He started caressing her body. They took their clothes off and enjoyed a night of love and passion. The next morning when Lillie awakened, Paul was not there. She felt comfort in the fact they shared a passionate night together. It rekindled the fire that was fading.  The ointment had worked. It satisfied the fire burning in her heart for the night.