Karl The sun has barely made its morning ascent into the sky by the time I’m pulling into Ethan’s gravel driveway. The tudor-style facades of his mansion catch the golden early morning sunlight, and it’s actually quite beautiful. A row of four stained glass windows on the front of the house, eac
His eyes narrow, and he stands. He looks much taller now that he’s recovered, and he no longer needs his cane. “Whatever you need to say, you can say it in front of my mate.” I sigh, straightening my jacket. “Alright, fine,” I say curtly. “Gianna is manipulating you. She’s a liar and a cheater, an
Abby The morning after the fated dinner, I find myself wandering through the house, my steps aimless as I try to occupy my mind and distract myself from the events of last night. The tension in the air was so thick you could cut it with a knife, and I can’t help but replay the argument between K
Abby After watching Karl leave, I feel like I’m still in a state of shock. Karl was never the type to volunteer back when we were married. I can actually remember one specific instance when I volunteered for an event and asked Karl to come along. His response was anything but enthusiastic. He
Abby After a while of walking to town through the thin blanket of snow that has settled over the landscape from last night, I arrive at the food drive, wearing my disguise—a baseball hat, sunglasses, and a blue surgical mask. Actually, it’s more so that the sound of the food and clothing drive r
Abby Our feet are sore as we make our way down the quaint market street, but my entire body feels loose and relaxed after the full day of hard work. It seems as though the first snow yesterday has led everyone to get into the holiday spirit, and the stores are all bursting with people excitedly
Abby “Shall we?” Karl asks, nodding his head toward the sidewalk. I nod, and follow him away from the shop, away from the little shoes that warm my heart and break it at the same time. Our feet continue to carry us along the bustling streets of the holiday market, the scent of hot apple cider st
Abby It’s been a couple more days since Karl and I spent that surprisingly enjoyable day at the food drive and the subsequent stroll through the holiday market. The memories of our time together linger in my mind, a mix of warmth and nostalgia. I’m grateful for the brief moments of connection, b