"I'm fine," he said. He reassured her with a hug.

"Stan called and told us everything," she said. "I can't believe Brandon Richards was the killer, and he went after Mel. Oh, if you hadn't been there, I shudder to think what would have happened."

"Mel would have been okay," Joe said. "She's very re-sourceful."

"Nice head, bro," Paulie said. "How many stitches?"

"Four," Joe said.

"Aw, that's nothing," Al said. "Remember when Sal was in that motorcycle accident and he left his scalp on the road?"

They all shuddered.

"I heard how you took down Brandon Richards," Marty said as he joined them. "Nicely done."

"Thanks," Joe said.

"Isn't it wonderful?" Joyce asked. "Lupe won, and Tate and Angie are engaged! I'm just so happy!"

"What?" Joe looked stunned.

"You didn't tell him?" Joyce asked Mel.

"No, I didn't get a chance," Mel said. She knew it sounded weak when Joe looked at her and frowned. There had certainly been plenty of time while they were cooling their heels in the ER.

"It's pretty big news," Al said. "The rest of the family is coming over to celebrate."

"That's great!" Joe said. Mel wondered if it was just her who heard the bittersweet tone in his voice. He strode across the room and hugged his sister. When Tate held out his hand for a shake, Joe pushed it aside and gave him a manly hug instead. Mel smiled. It was good to see Tate being accepted into the DeLaura fold so easily.

"That could be you," Marty said.

She turned and glanced at him. "No, I don't think Angie is interested in marrying me."

"You know what I mean," he said. "That could be you and Joe."

"Assuming they didn't keep it a secret," Joyce said from her other side.

"Are you two ganging up on me?" Mel asked.

Marty and Joyce both leaned forward and looked at each other before they leaned back. "Yes," they said.

Mel glanced at the crowd in front of her. Oz and Lupe were standing with her family while Tate and Angie and Joe were just off to the side. Al and Paulie had drifted over to join the newly engaged couple. Everyone was smiling and happy.

"No, it can't be me," Mel said sadly. "Joe has stopped asking me to marry him. I think he's given up on me."

"Oh, no," Joyce said. Her face looked as sad as Mel felt.

"Well, so what?" Marty snapped.

"What do you mean 'so what'?" Mel asked. "He's given up. As in, I finally managed to push him away."

"And you're going to let that be the end?" Marty asked. "That's lame."

"Lame?"

"Totally lame," he said.

"Is this how you mind your own business?" Mel asked.

Their voices were rising in volume and she noticed that the rest of the gathering was beginning to look at them. She didn't care.

"Yes, it is," Marty snapped. "I've been watching you for the past few months messing up your life and I've said nothing, because I was sure that brain in your head would kick in and you'd figure it out. But you are slower than molasses on a cold day. So what if Joe stopped asking you? Is he the only one in your relationship?"

Mel felt her face get hot as she realized everyone in the room was staring at them. But then she glanced up and saw Joe, gazing at her with his warm chocolate brown eyes filled with concern, and everything clicked into place.

"Joe, will you marry me?" she asked.

The entire room froze. The only noise was coming from the jukebox, which, appropriately, was playing Elvis crooning "Love Me Tender."

"You don't have to do this, Mel," Joe said. "In fact, you really shouldn't."

"Oh, for Pete's sake," Marty muttered to Joyce. "Did he fall down the stupid tree and hit every branch?"

Joyce hushed him.

"I know I don't have to and I love you for that even more than I thought possible," Mel said. "The truth is I have been in love with you since I was twelve years old, Joe DeLaura. When you asked me to marry you, everything in my world was right, but then I got scared. I couldn't bear the thought that I might lose you someday and I got the wiggins. It was stupid and I'm sorry."

Joe crossed the room to stand beside her. His face was pinched as if he were in pain.

"I really think we should talk about this somewhere else," he said.

Mel studied his face. He looked like a man being torn in two. Oh, no! She had been right. He had changed his mind. She had thought it would be the humiliation of being publicly rejected that would kill her, but no. She clutched her chest. This was not angina that hurt so bad; rather, it was the feeling of her heart breaking and shattering into a million pieces.

"Oh, I see," she said.

"What the what?" Marty protested beside her.

Again, Joyce hushed him.

"Come on," Joe said. He took Mel's arm and led her out the door. "We need to talk."

The door closed behind them and Mel could still hear Elvis crooning, which was only slightly louder than the furious chorus of whispers that broke out as soon as the door shut.

"You don't have to explain," Mel said. "I was an idiot. I'm so sorry I kept pushing you away. I understand if your patience has run out."

Joe moved into her personal space and cupped her face in his hands.

"Listen, Cupcake," he paused and took a deep breath as if trying to figure out exactly what to say. "I meant it when I asked you to marry me. Every. Single. Time."

Mel gazed into his eyes and she knew he was telling the truth. She supposed it was some consolation that he looked as if he was in as much agony as she was.

"But?" she prodded.

He pushed back a lock of her hair that had fallen forward. His fingers moved slow as if savoring the feel of the blond curl. He leaned forward and placed a kiss on her forehead. Mel felt her throat get tight. She closed her eyes, trying to memorize the feel of his lips against her skin. She knew a kiss-off when she got one.

His voice was gravel-rough when he said, "But things change. I'm sorry, Mel."

She couldn't speak. She stepped back and nodded. Joe met her gaze for a heartbeat. It hurt too much and Mel glanced away. When she looked back up, he was gone.

She didn't think she could go back inside and face everyone just yet. She slumped against the wall and let the tears fall silently down her face. The irony that losing Joe hurt even worse than she had feared was not lost on her. And it didn't help, not even a little.

"Uh, Mel?" a voice called her name. "You all right?"

She hastily wiped her cheeks and cleared her throat.

"Yeah," she answered.

She turned to find Manny walking down the sidewalk toward her. The overhead light shone on his black hair. He looked rumpled and tired and in need of a big lemon cupcake. Funny, she could use a few dozen herself.

"I'm looking for Joe," he said.

Great, just hearing his name was a knife to the chest.

"You just missed him," Mel said. She tried not to blanch but she couldn't help it. Having Joe walk out of her life was going to take some getting used to.

Manny stopped beside her and studied her face. "Oh, hell. He did it, didn't he?"

"Did what?"

"Walked away," he said.

"Walked. Ran. Left skid marks," Mel said. "Take your pick. I suppose I had it coming since I rejected him so many times. What's that lovely expression? Payback's a bitch?"

Manny blew out a breath. "You know, I thought I would be happier about this, but I'm not. I hate to see you hurting."

"I'll be all right," Mel lied.

A noise sounded from the shop and Mel suspected that the party was breaking up. Probably, the jocularity was cut short by the awkward scene she and Joe had caused.

"We can't talk here," Manny said. He grabbed Mel's hand, giving her no choice but to go with him.

They circled the building until they were at the back stairs that led up to her apartment.

"Sit," Manny ordered.

"I'm really not up for a convo just now," she said. The thought of rolling up in her futon and not coming out for a week or two . . . Now that had appeal.

"This isn't a conversation," Manny said. "I'm going to talk and you're going to listen."

Mel straightened up. He had her attention now.

"What's going on?" she asked.

Manny began to pace. "You know if you could just fall for me this would all be so much easier." He sighed. "Your heart belongs to Joe, doesn't it?"

"Always," Mel choked.

Manny nodded. "This is ridiculous. I'm considered one of the toughest detectives on the force, but I can't do this."

"Do what?"

"Lie to you," he said. He stopped in front of her. "The brick that came through your window, it wasn't meant for Lupe."

"What?"

"It was meant for you," he said.

"Me?" Mel gaped. "But why?"

Manny started pacing again. He looked to be thinking through something. Mel didn't interrupt for fear that he wouldn't share. Finally, he stopped.

"If you were a very powerful criminal with an incredibly long reach, how would you try to stop the assistant district attorney who was gunning for you?" he asked.

Mel stared at Manny. What was he saying?

"I'd go after what he valued most," she said.

"The brick was just a warning," Manny said. "Joe's been getting death threats from a case he's working and it looks like they'll go even further to discourage him from pursuing it."

"Death threats?" Mel asked. Her voice was faint. "Oh my god, what case is this?"

"I'm not telling you that," Manny said. "In fact, I'm not telling you anything more about it. You have to stay away from him, Mel. They will hurt you to get to him."

"I don't care," Mel said. "That's not for him to decide."

"Actually, I think it is," Manny said. "Which is why he walked. If it's any consolation, I know it wasn't easy for him."

Mel half rose from her seated position and patted her pockets. She wanted her phone. She had a few choice words for Joe DeLaura, most of which included that if he thought he was shaking her off like a bad case of fleas, he had another think coming.

"Mel, don't do it," Manny said.

"Do what?" she asked.

"Contact Joe," he said. "If you do, you'll be putting yourself in jeopardy. Mel, you could get him killed trying to protect you."

Mel sat back down. "It's that serious?"

Manny nodded. "If you love him, really love him, you have to let him go, Mel."