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
Abby The mention of a ‘special guest’ from Karl catches me off guard, and I can’t help but shoot him a perplexed look. “A special guest?” I echo, a hint of disbelief lacing my voice. “Who is it?” Karl chuckles softly, a faint smile playing on his lips. “Abby, it’s you. You’re the special guest.”
As we entered the beautifully decorated living room, it felt like stepping into a winter wonderland. The towering Christmas tree glistened with ornaments and lights, and garlands of evergreen adorned the grand staircase. Soft, festive music filled the air, and the room was aglow with the warm light
Abby Karl’s raised eyebrow tells me that my suggestion has taken him by surprise. “A masquerade party?” he asks, his voice filled with skepticism. “I don’t know, Abby. That’s a strange request, at least for a holiday party.” I sigh, running a hand through my hair. The memory of our first Chris
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