LOGINAbby 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 The paint sloshes in the can as I pour it out into the tray, wiping a bead of sweat from my brow with the other hand. “Just three more walls to go,” Leah says. “And then…” “And then another coat,” I add with a laugh. “But we can do that another day.” After I’ve finished pouring the pain
Abby The air is sweet and heavy with the scent of blooming flowers as the three of us step off of the helicopter. Leah, who has only seen this place in pictures, looks around with an expression of wonder in her eyes as she takes in the sunlit scene. “Wow,” she breathes, stepping forward with
Ethan chuckles. “I’ll certainly do my best.” “That’s all I can ask for.” We sip our drinks for a few more moments in companionable silence. It’s hard to believe that it’s come to this; Ethan is the new CFO and head manager of the restaurant. I’m still technically the owner, but I’ll hardly b
Abby Despite the warm spring weather and the golden glow of the city lights at night, the restaurant feels more imposing than ever as I stare up at it. I take in a shuddering breath, blinking back the tears that threaten to spill. Not tonight. I won’t cry tonight. A warm hand slips into







