Karl As I lift another beam into place, a bead of sweat trickles down my forehead, but my attention is elsewhere. Across the field, Abby is in her element, orchestrating the kitchen with a natural ease. There’s an undeniable rhythm to her movements, and I find myself watching her probably more t
Abby The sun is just beginning to dip below the horizon, painting the sky in shades of pink and orange, as the first day of the library project comes to an end. My team and I are packing up our tent, the aroma of our day’s cooking still lingering in the air. We’re all tired, but there’s a sense
Abby The next two days of the library project go by without a hitch. Karl, my team, and I get up bright and early each morning, head to the construction site, and get to work. While Karl works on building the library with the other volunteers, my team and I spend our mornings and afternoons prepar
“Get back to work,” I tease, nudging him back with a grin. The morning progresses with a lively buzz after that. There’s an influx of new volunteers for the project, which means more food to prepare and more mouths to feed; but I don’t mind. It’s nice to be back with my team, doing what we do best
Abby The pub, with its warm, amber lighting and the gentle hum of conversation, feels like a haven after the long day of work. Outside, it’s nearly frigid, but it’s as warm as can be in here thanks to the flickering fire in the fireplace. I can already picture a tall glass of beer in my hand to wa
He grins widely, oblivious to my lie. “Well, it’s great to hear,” he says. “A lot of people are happy about it. And, you know, it’s nice to see our Alpha smiling again. He’s seemed different since you came back.” The bartender’s words give me pause. I peek over my shoulder at Karl, who is deep in
Abby After wandering down a narrow, dimly lit hallway in search of Karl, I push out into an equally narrow alley. The cold night air bites at my skin, but I can hardly feel it thanks to the beer in my belly. Furrowing my brow, I look around; and then I spot him. I find him standing alone in the
Abby Pressed up against the cold stone wall, Karl and I are locked in a passionate kiss, the world around us fading into insignificance. The rough texture of the wall against my back is a stark contrast to the warmth of Karl’s body pressed unwaveringly up against mine. Our breaths mingle in the
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