LOGINI can hardly believe it. Before my friends can say anything else, I squeal and throw my arms around them both, jumping up and down. Liam and Brian and the twins are the one major thing I’ve missed dearly since leaving Bo’Arrocan, and to find that they’re finally considering living in Ordan full time
“On schedule, believe it or not,” I reply. “The Bo’Arrocan branch is finally running smoothly, and the Ordan location just graduated its first class of seniors. Six of them got full scholarships to prestigious art schools.”“That’s amazing, Iris.” Alice squeezes my arm. “You’ve created something tru
IrisFive Years Later…“Fifty years of marriage, and they still make each other laugh like that,” Arthur says, appearing at my side with two glasses of champagne. He hands me one and clinks his against it, and we watch as my parents twirl on the lawn, my mom throwing her head back at something my fa
“Gee. Thanks,” I manage to laugh weakly. “I’ll see you all next week.”“You most certainly will not,” Arthur, Hunter, and Alice all say in unison, making me roll my eyes.Outside, Arthur’s car is waiting, parked haphazardly half on the curb. He must have driven like a maniac to get here so quickly f
IrisEight months later…“And that’s why the colors on this side of the color wheel are considered ‘cool’ colors,” I explain to the class of children sitting in a semicircle around me. “They remind us of water, ice, and the sky.”I’m demonstrating on a large color wheel chart when a sharp pain rips
And through it all, Augustine’s breathing grows slower, shallower.Then, quietly and calmly, she goes.Her hand turns limp in mine. The steady beeping of the heart monitor flatlines. The doctor steps forward, checks for a pulse, then shakes her head.“Time of death, 10:47 AM,” she says quietly.I br
IrisMy palms are sweaty as Ezra parks the car in front of the main entrance to my parents’ estate. I check my reflection in my compact mirror one last time—hair neatly brushed, light makeup, a simple but elegant dress. I look put together, but my insides feel like they’re on fire.We exit the car,
“I don’t know. You tell me.”The door opens, and my mother enters with a silver tea tray. “Here we are,” she announces cheerfully. She sets the tray on a side table and begins pouring. “Leonard, darling, one sugar or two?”“Two,” my father answers without taking his eyes off of me.My mother hands h
ArthurMy parents’ house looks exactly the same as it always has. The driveway is perfectly maintained. The lawn is manicured within an inch of its life. Even the flowers that line the walkway seem to stand at attention, afraid to lean too far in any direction for fear of being cut away by my mother
But even as I think it, the first tendrils of doubt begin to wrap around my intestines. They’ve never accepted Iris. They’ve made that painfully clear.With a nod, I turn and make my way toward Iris’s room.When we return to Iris’s hospital room, she’s sitting upright in bed. The sight of her pale,







