“Thanks, Elsie,” I say softly. “It’s good to be back.” With that, I make my way back into the house, each step carrying a different weight, a different emotion. As I reach the top of the staircase, I hear Karl’s voice drifting from the living room, and my heart does a strange little leap. Maybe El
Abby The warm afternoon sunlight casts dappled patterns on the ground as we walk through the park, holding cardboard coffee cups in our hands. The warmth seeps through the cup, mingling with the crisp air. It’s a nice moment, bordering on something that feels almost normal. And then we stop in f
“Smells amazing in here,” Karl says as he walks in, his eyes meeting mine for a moment before landing on the pot. “Whatcha cooking?” “Spaghetti Bolognese,” I reply, stirring the pot once more. “I remember it was one of your favorites.” “Still is,” he grins, moving closer. “Need any help?” I lo
Karl The mahogany door clicks shut behind me as I step into the conference room. Members of the council, influential businessmen and entrepreneurs who hold significant power in the community, are already seated around the long table. I can feel the weight of their expectations hanging in the air
“Karl,” Gianna says once they’re gone, snapping me out of my reverie. “I think you should come to dinner tonight. We need to discuss a few more things.” I look up at her. There’s something off about her tone, something I can’t quite place. Maybe because of that, I wind up making a snap decision. “
Abby I’m seated on a lounge chair in the back lawn, soaking in the sun and the chirping of birds as a soothing backdrop. The air smells of freshly cut grass, and I’m surrounded by the vibrant colors of the garden—reds, yellows, and blues.. It’s peaceful, almost idyllic, but my mind is elsewhere.
Truthfully, I can’t be angry with Gerald. He’s worked with Karl’s adoptive family for decades, literally watched Karl grow up once he was taken in here. He’s steadfastly loyal, and clearly angry with me. But his anger is founded on mistruths. The sooner that Karl makes his official announcement, t
Abby I’m in the kitchen organizing my thoughts, sketching out a mental roadmap for tonight’s three-course extravaganza as I mumble under my breath. “Sauvignon Blanc with the salmon… Hmm… Maybe I should prepare cappuccinos with the torte for dessert…” Just then, the door swings open, and in wal
Abby Intrigued, I let Karl take my hand and lead me discreetly away from the reception, weaving through the tables and out a back door into the gardens. A mischievous grin plays on his lips as we giggle like teenagers, ducking behind hedges and scurrying across the lush green lawns. “Where are w
As the music shifts to a slow ballad, I feel a familiar pair of strong arms circle my waist from behind. “There’s my beautiful wife,” Karl’s deep voice rumbles in my ear, sending shivers down my spine. He spins me around to face him, our bodies swaying in time to the soft music. I gaze up at him
Abby The reception hall is cast in a warm, romantic glow, with twinkling lights and the warm flickering of candles on every table. Soft music plays as Karl and I make our entrance, hand-in-hand to raucous applause and cheers from our guests. I can’t stop smiling as we wave to our loved ones gather
Abby The afternoon sun streaming in through the tall windows of the chapel casts the stones in a warm golden light, giving everything a sort of ethereal energy. I stand in the hallway, my arm linked with Anton’s, as the wedding coordinator prepares everyone to walk down the aisle. “Are you ready
Abby As I sit in front of the vanity mirror with the hair and makeup artist circling around me, I meet my friends’ gazes in the reflection; Chloe, Leah, Daisy, and even Elsie are here as my bridesmaids, each of them looking more beautiful than the last. “The seamstress really did do a great job
Abby With a gasp of excitement, I pull the wedding gown out of its box and hold it up in the light. Everything is perfect; the way the beadwork catches the light, the silky texture, the shape. I can’t wait to try it on now that it’s been altered to fit my body. Quickly, I slip out of my clothe
Abby “Abby, why don’t you sit down?” Karl looks up at me from where he’s sitting on the sofa, a look of concern on his face. He pats the spot next to him, but I shake my head. “I can’t,” I say, continuing to pace back and forth in our living room. “I won’t sit down until I hear back about that
Abby As I chop, stir, melt, and saute, the others stand around me, watching intently. The pasta simmers on the stove, the air smelling like warm butter and spices. It’s enough to make anyone’s mouth water. But my focus isn’t on the rumbling in my belly, nor is it even on the lingering pain in my
As we continue searching, I keep thinking back on our last harrowing hunt for black truffles; those poachers nearly shot us. Even now, I can still remember the sound of the bullets whizzing past my head, and the thuds they made when they careened into trees. “We got really lucky,” I say. “If we ha