Abby I push open the door to the restaurant, the soft chime signaling my unexpected entrance. I feel the weight of curious gazes on me—Daisy, Ethan, a few waiters. They’re all surprised to see me back so early. “Abby, what are you doing here?” Ethan asks, a mix of confusion and concern etchi
Chloe rises from her seat and comes around the desk to hug me. “And even then,” she continues, her arms wrapping around me, “maybe you shouldn’t let him back in. This is it, Abby, This is the sign you needed to remind yourself that he’s no good for you.” I hug her back, finding a semblance of co
Abby The restaurant has long since closed, but the aroma of sauteed onions and garlic still lingers in the air. The sound of sizzling oil on the stove and the faint melody of a song that I don’t like wafting from a speaker in the corner mix together to create a tense symphony that I absolutely d
We both dip spoons into the sauce, tasting it simultaneously. It’s… alright. The paprika adds an unexpected depth of flavor. But it’s just not what I wanted. None of this is what I wanted. I had really thought for a while that Karl would wind up being my sous chef for the competition, but that had t
Abby “Need a hand?” Just as I’m about to toss the greasy pan into the soapy water to soak overnight and call it a night, I hear the all-too-familiar voice call out from behind me, and everything seems to stop. It’s all I can do to stiffly turn around, my eyes widening and my heart pounding.
Karl Abby’s face is a picture of complete and utter betrayal as she looks at me from across the metallic countertop. “Why are you really here, Karl?” she hisses, her voice wavering ever so slightly. “What else could you possibly want from me?” For a moment, I almost consider telling her
I found myself sitting at my desk, a weighty leather bound folder sitting in front of me. “Gianna, Gerald, come in,” I called out, prepared to reveal my discoveries and see how it all unfolded. They walked in, and it was then that I saw it: they really did look like father and daughter. I was su
Abby The room is dead silent when Karl finishes telling his story. I’m in utter shock, and I think he is, too. In a way, now that I think of it, it all makes sense. And yet, all these years, neither of us ever saw it coming. “So your butler…” I pause, swallowing. “Conspired with your secreta
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