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 Karl and I finally step into my apartment after a long night, the door clicking shut behind us. I slide my heels off with a sigh of relief as Karl loosens his tie, tossing it aside. An easy silence hangs between us for a few minutes; we’re both lost in our own thoughts after the chance enco
“Very well,” he finally says. “If it doesn’t succeed within the six months, I’ll step down and relinquish control to you. But if I’m not happy with your governance within twelve months after that, I’ll want to hold another election. A real one, this time.” “Fair enough,” I say, nodding once again.
“Our baby,” I whisper. He smiles. “Yes. Our baby.” We lay curled together in comfortable silence for a while longer, simply enjoying each other’s presence and warmth beneath the sheets. The winter morning sun climbs higher outside the windows, bright and clear and deceptively warm. Eventually
Abby I wake slowly in the morning to find warm sunlight spilling across my face. For a moment I keep my eyes closed, clinging to the last little bit of sleep that I can. But then, awareness creeps in. I realize that I’m not alone in the massive bed. I peel my eyes open to find Karl already awa







