married for show
VALERIE
I was still sitting at the kitchen island, nursing my second cup of black coffee and pressing a cold spoon against the growing knot on my forehead, when the front doorbell rang.
A minute later, the housekeeper ushered Maya into the sunlit kitchen. She looked effortlessly put-together as always, holding a tray with two large iced caramel macchiatos from our favorite cafe downtown.
"Hey, stranger!" Maya called out, a bright, warm smile spreading across her face as she set the coffee tray on the marble island. "I figured you needed a pick-me-up after the insane week you've had."