Mag-log inAbby 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
“Well, I’m in charge here, and I say we do it this way.” Jack shoots me an angry look, his cold eyes filled with annoyance. I open my mouth again to say more, but before I can, Abby’s voice cuts through the kitchen once more. Jack smirks and turns back to his work, and I brace myself for more ord
Abby Tiffany crosses her arms, waiting for my answer. I don’t really know what to say to her. He’s the one who divorced me, after all. It’s not like I set out to break his heart. “I’m not the one who decided to get a divorce,” I say, opting for the truth. She pushes her curtain of brown hair o
“She was buying reviews on social media. I also saw pictures of her restaurant. Her decor is pretty much a direct copy of yours.” It takes a moment for the information to sink in. My throat burns, and I look down at my lap. Don’t cry, don’t cry, I tell myself, but tears well up into my eyes, anywa
Abby “What? Why?” Some of them have worked for me for years, Olivia the longest of them all. What would drive her and the others to quit so suddenly? No one answers. “Why are you all quitting?” I repeat. I’m not letting them leave here until I get some sort of explanation. No one looks at me







