Karl The front door creaks loudly as I push it open, the sound echoing off the walls of the foyer to my all-too-quiet house. I’ve just come home from the city, with Abby’s words still fresh on my mind. Mistake. Shouldn’t have happened. Never happening again. It feels like tiny knives being stuck
Abby The moment Mr. Thompson utters the words, the whole world seems to stop. I’m still sitting at my desk in my cluttered little office, but I feel as though I’ve been launched into outer space; it’s like that feeling in a dream when you suddenly fall from an impossible height, only to wake up ju
I’ll have to be at my best on Saturday, to cook like I’ve never cooked before. I’ll need to plan a menu that showcases not just my skills but my spirit. And I’ll have to pour every ounce of passion I have onto those plates. Saturday. The judges. My kitchen. I can do this. I hope. … As I step
Abby Sunlight spills through the restaurant windows, casting a warm golden glow over the bar where everyone is leaning. It’s right before opening, and I’ve called everyone: Chloe, Daisy, Ethan, John, and Anton to the front. Leah is here too before work, a cardboard cup of coffee in her hand, which
I find myself laughing, really laughing, for the first time in two weeks. “Okay, taste this,” I instruct, scooping a spoonful of sauce for them. They oblige, and the looks on their faces tell me all I need to know. “That’s the stuff,” Leah grins. Chloe nods. “You’ve still got it, Abby.” …
Karl “Talk to him. It’s good for him to hear some language—keeps the brain active.” The doctor’s words still linger in the back of my mind as I stand in my brother’s bedroom, looking down at him. He’s laying in his bed, still unconscious. I hate seeing him like this. The tubes, the IV, the sou
Abby The phone rings for a beat too long. My heart is practically in my throat as I wait, each drone of the ringtone sounding like a warning siren in my ears. What will I even say to him? “Hey, sorry I kissed you and then told you it was a mistake for the millionth time. Anyway, will you come ba
Abby I’m still standing, frozen, just inside the threshold of the kitchen. The air is silent as John and Anton suddenly halt their cooking, their eyes meeting each other for a moment before they slide over to me. “Abby?” John’s voice is somewhat incredulous, seeing as how I haven’t set foot in h
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