Slightly later, Charlotte Green returned to the Sweetheart Cottage. As soon as she got out of the car, she stood under the maple tree outside the fence and looked up—the maple leaves had turned red in the deep autumn.
Remembering everything she had learned from her father, she was filled with regret.
If only he hadn't gone far. If only he had been searching for that impossible maple leaf in front of his own home, how sweet that would be. She would have told him there was no need to search because that maple leaf was already delivered to her heart.
Kevin Cliff, where are you? How far could you go looking the way you do now?
Ever since Charlotte had left the house, Mrs. and Mr. Turner had been worried. Hearing the sound of the car returning, they hurried outside, only to see her in a state of utter distraught, realizing that something serious had happened.
"Charlotte, are you alright?" Mr. Turner approached, concern filling his voice.
