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
“Dammit,” I mutter under my breath, reaching for a fresh piece of salmon. I’m about to season it when I overhear voices filtering from the dining room. “Well, you should have seen the look on her face, trying so hard to impress everyone with her little cooking skills. As if we’ve forgotten that ou
Abby Stepping off the last stair, the whispers and murmurs reach a crescendo before falling into hushed silence. My gaze lands on Karl, and I revel in the astonishment flickering in his eyes. There’s a moment of silence as we gaze at each other. For a moment, things are like they used to be:
For a few seconds, it’s as if we're the only two people in the room. Words fail me. My mind is a thicket of emotions, feelings too intricate and tangled to put into coherent thought. When Karl finally sits back down, a part of me wants to run away, to escape this newfound reality where the lines
Karl As I pull Gianna into the dimly lit study, the atmosphere is filled with a tension that’s been brewing for weeks now, maybe even longer. The door clicks shut behind us, sealing us off from the guests, the judgment, and the murmurs. For a moment, we are suspended in a bubble of silence, and
Her words throw me off. How long has this been going on? How long had Gianna secretly been wishing that Abby wasn’t in the picture? And how many lengths has she attempted to go to in order to ensure that Abby can’t be in the picture? I lean in, my voice tinged with both annoyance and incredulity.
Abby I stand by the long table, the air thick with the scent of gourmet hors d'oeuvres and sparkling wine. Idly, I pick up a tiny pastry, turning it this way and that before setting it back on the plate. As if to steel my nerves and try not to think about what Karl is saying to Gianna in the oth