Or will Gianna’s claws sink into the very earth we stand on? … I’m sitting in the living room. The sun has long since gone down, and I’m curled up beneath a blanket with a good book. After my date with Elsie earlier, I feel lighter—but I also feel heavier, because I keep thinking about all of th
Abby There’s no time to waste; I need to write this email to my staff so I can invite them to come for this catering event. However, as I sit down at the kitchen island with my laptop in front of me, I can’t help but feel my heart pound as I begin typing out the invitation. I’ll admit that this
Chloe doesn’t mince words. Her tone is a bit harsh, although not necessarily in a mean way. I can tell she’s concerned, which I of course expected. I hesitate for a moment, my mind racing for an explanation that won’t cause even more concern. “I’m staying with Karl,” I finally admit. “I needed to
Abby I can’t wait for the next morning to come. The excitement bubbles up inside of me as I lie in bed, anticipating the arrival of my restaurant staff and friends. I know it’s only been a couple of weeks, but it feels like it’s been far too long since I’ve seen them, and I can't wait to hug each
Karl So far, the plans to have Abby’s staff cater for the library building event are going well. Abby was very receptive to the idea, and now her staff is all here. I’m certain that this event will be great press, not just for the election, but also for Abby and her restaurant. And even though t
“I know I’ve broken Abby’s heart.” I pause, my tone somber and low as I stare down at my lap. “But I thought we had an understanding, Chloe. I don’t want to hurt Abby ever again. I thought you knew that.” “Why, then, did she come here to hide from the city and didn’t even tell her two best friends
Abby “I support you. I support you all the way, Abby.” Leah’s unexpected support leaves me feeling both shocked and relieved. Her willingness to stand by my side and accept this unconventional arrangement fills me with gratitude, especially after the tension that hung heavily in the room moments
Karl takes a deep breath, his gaze flickering to me for the briefest of moments, before he begins. “I have an election coming up, and having a family will significantly boost my approval ratings,” he explains. “On the other hand, as you know, Abby is currently facing allegations regarding her restau
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