gale

nt clinking of glasses from the bar. Holden looked at my grandmot

r eyes. "Oh, daring Abigale! I knew you had it in you!" She bat

Highest hand wins. Loser takes a shot, and their last placed item goes into the pot. If you fold, you're out. If

heart pounded a frantic rhythm agai

e the cards with practiced ease. The crisp snap of the cards wa

g on her lips. She had played poker before, I kne

a mix of confusion and something else I couldn't

en looked away. His eyes still

icked up my cards. I fumbled them slightly,

e looks completely out of her depth." "Poor Abi

g from it, leaving it pale and stark. I played the

e a theatrical whisper. "Need some help, sweetie? I c

s in my hand. They were just cards.

errible. A pair of twos. I folded qu

ue cooed. "Time for yo

a tray with a shot glass filled wi

asy. "Dom, maybe

p. "Just drink it, Abig

her seat. "And what will it be, Abigale? Your lovel

om my grandmother for my graduation. The watch was a signif

t each tiny charm. The little book for her first novel, the camera for her passion for photography, the ti

ile. A bitter tas

e delicate gold chain with its small, intricate loc

up. She dangled it, admiring the way the gold

She was looking at the neckla

as grim. He did

omeone called out, ea

lt again. The

moderately good hand. A s

house. He scooped up the pot, which now includ

rowing her arms around Holden. "You

pplause. They were enjoying the s

"Who thought he was

den who had won the highest hand. "The player with the highest hand gets to

hrough the room. This wa

She looked at him, her eyes

rred. "You know what

The one with my grandmother's life etched into its charms. The one I h

The way she had looked at it earlier, the way

ominique to me. His

eturned, heav

prompted, her voice

e tears welling up, but I refused t

y bracelet?" Dominique asked, her voice oozing with fake c

is voice was flat. "Abi

h me, sharper than any

ce rush of anger. A b