Abby I step out of Damon’s office with the yellow flower still pressed between my fingers. There is a bittersweet smile on my face, but not for the reasons that Damon seems to believe. After all, I’m not really smiling because a handsome prince has just given me a flower. Rather, I’m smiling to
Abby Two lines. My hands shake as I stare down at the test in my hands. Two lines—pregnant. No, more than two lines, if you count the other two tests I’ve taken. Six lines; three positive results. “I just don’t believe it,” I whisper, my eyes misted over with tears. “I… I…” My voice trails o
I’m just about to open my mouth to respond when the intercom connected to the private rooms suddenly buzzes to life. “Chef Abby and staff, please report to the kitchen.” … “Whew. I am beat,” John says, wiping the sweat off of his brow with his towel as we wrap up for the day. “What a long day.
Karl The clock ticks on infuriatingly as I sit in the silent hotel room. Tick, tick, tick. God, I want to rip that thing out of the wall. My fingers, needing some kind of distraction, pick at the loose threads on the bed sheets. But all the while, my eyes are only fixed on one thing: my phone. I
Abby My lips feel raw and sore as I pace back and forth in my room. I’ve been standing here for what feels like hours, chewing at my lips with my phone sitting open to Karl’s contact page on the bed. I need to call him. I know I do. Despite everything, despite our breakup, he’s still the father
Karl “Enjoy the party, sir.” I slip past the front gates with ease, right along with the rest of the well-dressed guests. All around me, a sea of people wander right into the Prince’s estate; I’m just a face in this sea, thanks to the bartender who gave me the information I needed to get in. A
“I… I mean, I hope she’ll at least spare me five minutes,” I say quietly. “I, uh… I really need to talk to her, John. Please.” For a few moments, John just stares at me and I feel as if he might deny me access to Abby—and for good reason, honestly. If it’s true that Abby really wants nothing to do
Abby “May I have this dance?” Damon’s striking green eyes flash handsomely at me from behind his long lashes. I hate to admit it, but he does look good tonight in his elegant tuxedo, with his long hair swept back into a neat bun. A few wispy pieces of hair frame his square jaw. Maybe, if circu
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