While Rose is in the Godseys' store one day a travelling salesman calls in and she is surprised to find he was her dancing partner when they lived in Baltimore. He, Stanley Perkins, calls on her, they dine out, and their warm friendship is renewed. He proposes marriage to her and she accepts after talking it over with her grandchildren. He finds a deserted house to buy which they go and inspect. He hasn't told her about the offer he has just received for sales work in California, a dream he's cherished for years, but Corabeth has leaked it to Rose and she mentions it to him. She declines to marry him, knowing that he would always be regretful of not going West, so they say goodbye to each other.