Ever since she’d been a little girl, Tallie had loved tales of romance like Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Beauty and the Beast. As she’d gotten older, her interest in all things romantic had grown along with her. She loved romance novels and could watch Sixteen Candles, Dirty Dancing, Overboard and Never Been Kissed again and again. And the Twilight saga. That one had it all. A noble hero who would sacrifice everything for his mortal love.

But what if romance existed only in novels and made-for-television movies?  What if what she longed for wasn’t real?  What if it only existed in Hallmark movies?

She shook her head. No, it had to be real. True love might be hard to find, but it was as real as the beat of her heart. She’d always believed in it. And not only because of the romance novels and movies. Her very own mother and father had been her best example of what two people could share if they put their hearts – and minds – into it. 

Two people could love one another for life. That’s what Tallie wanted. With each passing year, however, the despair that it might not be meant for her grew and grew. As a teenager and then later on as a young woman, it had been wonderful to weave daydreams around a tall, dark and handsome prince charming. In her late twenties, Tallie’s daydreams became fewer and far between but her hopes that a knight in shining armor would ride into her life never really waned. Until her last birthday. Lately, she’d begun doubting more and more that there was a love out there meant especially for her. 

Out of all of her classmates from high school, she was the only one that hadn’t married and had children. That fact alone made Tallie feel weird. Add that to all of her other hang-ups and, whoa boy, she felt like the world’s biggest loser. 

Drumming her fingertips on the kitchen counter, Tallie weighed her options. She could turn on the television and find something meaningless to take her mind off her dark thoughts. Or, she could get out her cleaning supplies and try to stick to her normal routine, even if it were a little later than usual. Or, she could make a big breakfast and eat until she felt better. That sounded like the best option.

Tallie straightened. Or, she could call her best friend back home for some good old fashioned girl talk.