เข้าสู่ระบบKATHRYN’S POVThe apartment felt different after everyone had gone home. It was not because it was quieter. Because the silence finally belonged to the people who lived there to Celine and Iris and me.The flowers from the ceremony were still on the dining table. A few ribbons had slipped from the backs of the chairs. Discarded wrapping paper from Celine's gifts was under the coffee table. Nothing looked perfectly arranged anymore. Yet every little bit of mess made me smile because it proved people had filled this home with love before leaving it behind.Celine sat curled between Iris and me on the sofa. She was wrapped in a blanket she insisted was the one even though she said that about every blanket she owned. A cartoon played softly on the television. I doubted she had followed the story for the twenty minutes because her eyelids kept growing heavier after every blink.She yawned dramatically before leaning her head against Iris's shoulder."I'm not sleepy " she said.I exchanged
IRIS’S POVI never thought that the quietest day of my life would become the most important one.The place where we got married was really pretty it was right by the water. The sun was shining on the waves it was really nice. Kathryn and I decided that we did not want a fancy wedding. We just wanted something real. We did not want to pretend to be something we're not. We wanted to be honest with each other and with our friends.My friend Daniel came over to me he had two cups of coffee. His tie was already a little crooked even though the ceremony had not started yet."You know " he said, giving me a cup of coffee "you and Kathryn are really good at making people emotional."I took the cup from him."You sound disappointed " I said to him."I am offended " he said, putting his hand on his chest."I spent a lot of time working on my best man speech. Now I do not want to give it.""Why not?" I asked him."Because I like you and Kathryn much " he said.I laughed."That is really nice of
IRIS’S POVKathryn was still looking at me. I realized she was waiting to see if I had really heard what we had both heard.I laughed first.Not because anything was funny.I just did not know what to do.There was no sound big enough to say what was happening inside my chest.Kathryn whispered to me "You are laughing," and the corners of her mouth went up even though tears were already in her eyes.I said, "I know."Kathryn said, "You have not said anything."I told her "I do not think my brain has caught up yet."Then Kathryn let out a laugh that was a little shaky."Mine either " she said.I reached for her without thinking. My hands closed around hers.Kathryn said, "They said..."I said, "I know what they said."Kathryn said, "We are..."She nodded before I could finish."We are having a baby " I said.The words just hung in the air between us.They were not a surprise anymore.They were a promise.I looked down at our hands then slowly looked up at Kathryn.Kathryn made me the h
KATHRYN’S POVThe ring still felt new on my finger. It already felt like it was meant to be there. Every time I looked at it I felt a feeling that some things are just meant to be. They do not become true just because someone says them out loud. They were always true. Someone just gave them a name.I did not realize I was smiling until Iris saw me."What?" he asked.He was standing close to me. Our hands touched naturally."I keep looking at it " I said.He. said, "You have looked at it at least six times."I replied "Seven."He laughed softly. Said "I stand corrected."I lifted my hand again. The light caught the stone."It is beautiful " I said.He said "I am glad."I asked him "You chose it yourself?"He said "I was not trusting Daniel with that responsibility."I burst into laughter. Said "Wise decision."He said "He wanted something large it would have needed planning permission."I said "That sounds like Daniel."He said "It was."I looked back at the ring on Iris's finger.He h
IRIS’S POVThe apartment felt wonderfully different after the last guest left because the laughter still seemed to linger in the walls. Although the celebration had ended happiness refused to leave with everyone else.I closed the door behind Daniel after exchanging one last hug.He pointed a finger at me before walking toward the elevator.“You’ve had a day.”“I noticed.”“You’ve got another one coming.”I frowned.“What does that mean?”Daniel’s grin widened.“I think you already know.”Before I could answer the elevator doors slid shut.I shook my head smiling despite myself.“Impossible man.”When I turned back toward the apartment the quiet greeted me differently than it used to. Months ago silence had meant uncertainty. Tonight it meant home.Kathryn emerged from Celine’s bedroom closing the door carefully behind her. The tenderness in her face told me their daughter had finally surrendered to sleep after fighting it with birthday excitement.She smiled the moment our eyes met.
KATHRYN’S POVCeline's laughter filled the apartment like music. The adults were slowly feeling better after their conversation. Even though some people still had tears in their eyes the party was starting to have funSomeone turned the music on.Daniel wanted to help the kids have fun again. He said that all the kids under ten had to help him pick the birthday cupcakes."I need people who really know what they are doing," he said seriously.One little boy did not think Daniel was serious."Do you even know how to pick the cupcakes?" he asked.Daniel put his hand on his heart."I have been getting ready for this my whole life" he said.The little boy laughed."You just eat them " he said.Daniel smiled."I call it research " he said.The kids. Ran after him.I could not. Smile.Life always keeps movingI looked around the room until I found Mrs. Mayers.She was not with the adults.She was standing by the window watching Celine.She looked relieved and sad at the time.She looked like
KATHRYN POVThe next morning I walked straight to Iris’s room.“Come in,” he said. “What brought you here this morning?” He asked.I could still feel the room affecting my thoughts like noise that would not go away."Yes, I'd like to have a word with you,” I said finally. My voice was quieter than
JACOB POVMy eyebrows pulled together a bit as I straightened up. I stared at her focusing on her face. The soft look on her face was gone.“What do you mean by that?" I asked. My voice wasn't calm anymore. There was something behind her words that didn't fit with this moment.She looked at me lik
KATHRYN POVThere was no way I was actually seeing him.My brain scrambled for logic, for denial, anything that would turn this into a nightmare I could wake up from if I just tried hard enough.But his scent was real.His hand at my waist was real.The feeling of him standing this close was too re
KATHRYN POVI am coming to your office with the divorce papers.I sent the message before I could stop myself, then turned my phone off and shoved it aside.My hands were already shaking.Is going to his office the right decision or was I walking straight into my own death?I picked up the document







