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Chapter 8
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Found Spring Without Them Chapter 9
I looked down at the ring, and tears spilled down my face.Audrey looked up at me. "With me, you'll never have to give up your place for anyone. You'll always come first. And you'll be the only one."I held out my hand.As she slipped the ring onto my finger, something landed outside the courtyard gate with a soft thud.What I didn't know was that Stefani was standing in the shadows.The art book had slipped from her hand onto the stone path, its cover streaked with mud.***A year later, Audrey and I got married on the lawn outside the bookstore.Postcards of my paintings decorated the space.Wearing a wedding dress, Audrey straightened my tie."Nervous?"I shook my head."Just a little hungry."She laughed and slipped a piece of candy into my palm."This should hold you over. After the ceremony, I'm taking you out for tacos."Then my phone buzzed.A message from an unknown number held a single photo.Stefani sat in a wheelchair, both pant legs empty. She'd grown so t
Found Spring Without Them Chapter 8
I looked at Stefani and realized she felt like a stranger.She'd always been so sure.Sure I'd give in. Sure I'd wait. Sure I'd come back every time she pushed me aside.Now she stood in my yard, and even her accusations sounded ridiculous."What gives you the right to ask me that?"Her lips went pale."I just can't accept that you moved on so fast."I nodded."Of course you can't. You replaced my photo with his, gave him my wedding invitations, and expected me to stand there while you walked down the aisle with him first."Her shoulders went rigid.I continued, "You don't love me, and you don't love him. You just like having me behind you while Wesley leans on you. It makes you feel important."Audrey paused while clearing the dishes but said nothing.Stefani parted her lips. "That's not true."I looked at her. "Then what was it? You knew fennel made me sick, but you still ordered it for the wedding tasting."You knew how much painting meant to me, but you let me spend s
Found Spring Without Them Chapter 7
Mom struggled, but Audrey didn't let go. Her face turned red. "I'm his mother. I have every right."Audrey released her wrist, then stepped in front of me. "He's an adult, not your property."Stefani stared at Audrey's hand, her expression turning cold. "This is a family matter. You have no right to interfere."Audrey met her gaze. "If he doesn't want you here, then it's not your family matter."I stepped out from behind Audrey.I thought seeing them again would make me shake. Hurt. Maybe even cry.Instead, I felt nothing but distance.I looked at Mom. "When I came in first in my class in elementary school, you told me not to tell Wesley because you were afraid it would upset him."On my birthday in middle school, you replaced my cake with a sugar-free one he could eat."When I was applying to college, I wanted to go to art school, but you said the family could only afford Wesley's medical bills and made me pick a cheaper major."Mom's expression shifted. "Your brother's heal
Found Spring Without Them Chapter 6
I took the calico, and one of its claws snagged my sleeve.The woman looked down and carefully freed the fabric."Its name is Pumpkin. It's shy around strangers, but it loves drawing paper."I glanced down.Pumpkin had already curled up on the box of my sketches and fallen asleep.The woman handed me a business card.[Once Upon a Book][Audrey Hart]"I have a book restoration bench in my place. Feel free to borrow the tools anytime."I nodded. "Thanks."After settling into Linden Bay, I started working on a picture book called When Spring Comes.The first page showed a little boy standing in a long shadow, holding a paintbrush.He waited until dust covered the paper.Prof. Grant read the first draft and only said, "Don't rush to heal. Paint the pain honestly first."I revised the illustrations in the courtyard, with Pumpkin curled beneath my easel.Whenever Audrey came to get it, she'd casually bring in the box of paints I'd left by the door.She never asked where I'd c
Found Spring Without Them Chapter 5
Stefani's face darkened."He's throwing a tantrum. Have someone wait for him at the entrance."The wedding coordinator handed her a tablet, her voice shaking. "Look at the ballroom screen. Mr. Neilsen scheduled something to play before he left. Every guest has already seen it."Stefani's head snapped toward the main screen.Frozen there was the wedding schedule she'd approved herself.[The bride will wheel the groom's older brother down the aisle first. The groom will enter afterward.]Her hand stopped midair.Under the bright lights, the color slowly drained from Wesley's face.Then the ballroom doors flew open.Phoebe rushed in carrying a custom tuxedo. "Ms. Lundberg, the apartment's been cleared out. This was the only thing left on the bed."The tux slipped from her arms and hit the floor, dust smearing the hem.Stefani bent to pick it up, her fingers tightening around the fabric.Whispers rippled through the crowd."My God. Wesley always acted so sick. Who would've gue
Found Spring Without Them Chapter 4
Phoebe handed me the tablet.The reception homepage no longer showed a photo of Stefani and me. It had been replaced with a solo portrait of Wesley.[Your Groom] was gone. In its place was one line:[May every regret be met with kindness.]"Who picked that caption?"Phoebe glanced toward the door."Ms. Lundberg approved it just now."Stefani walked in carrying a cup of warm water. She handed it to Wesley, then looked at me."Nate, good. You're here. Wesley's support group is coming, so I already added seats for them.""What about my coworkers and friends?" I asked.She shrugged it off. "They can sit farther back. Wesley's friends aren't in great health, so they need to be closer to the entrance."I looked at the names shoved into the corner of the seating chart.My college roommate.The professor who'd once praised my paintings.The only former coworker I'd invited.Stefani gave my wrist a gentle squeeze. "A wedding is for the guests. Don't stress over the seating, okay?
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