Um amor que eu tenho de Robert F. Young .
Eu identifiquei este livro antes em Busque a história melancólica de SF sobre a mulher que espera por seu parceiro
Você se enganou um pouco sobre a gardênia branca. O protagonista, Philip, não traz uma gardênia branca. Quando ele retorna, ele encontra uma gardênia branca que seu amor, Miranda, deixou na mesa:
He returned to the living room and went into the kitchen. The kitchen was the same too, but there was no Miranda in it. He switched on the light and stared at the porcelain sink, the chrome stove, the white cupboards, the gleaming utility table ...
There was a hand mirror lying on the table, and beside it was a crumpled gardenia. He picked up the gardenia and it was cool and soft in his hand. He held it to his nostrils and breathed its fresh scent. There was another scent mingled with it, a delicate fragrant scent. He recognized it immediately as Miranda's perfume.