I

y shimmering in the distance like jewels on black velvet. The house

would operate

placed the empty emotions, though. This time, my grandmother, grand

” Finally, granny murmured. “Jo

after us, little Bella came up. My cousin was

d the doorway, my ey

pened to

e should give you a room with one bed. Your room, since you le

lders d

etly and stepped through the doorway.

eep in it? M

around and sent m

htub, you might have

her sweet l

after the bumpy flight. Bella, let’s go,” Joe said and took little Bel

tely needed a hot bath.

doorway, Joe look

my mom, but you know you can’t fool me

ght before. Not right now. Not to Joe, not to my mother.

a warm bath

gave me

rvent lover and catch up. Yo

laughed.

a man who didn’t

unpacked my suitcase and

person, was welcoming. Even the reading nook by th

to write. Since I got the job as a

ow that I was alone, my mind wandered to this morning an

s slogans for future ads and uncorrected texts. And if I added the fight

important people and needed presentation maps. Even with Stella’s words in mind tha

s different, much more obscure, which if Gabriel knew, I didn’t kn

ignation letter that felt like a break-up memo after completing that work h

heeks to heat up and my eyes

s. I’d look for a new position and I kne

l men if I wasn’t constantly stari

mind off o

la

he was the day before, with his jacket flapping open and his hands in his pockets.

ou dare

er water to wash all th

r, it was crucial for me to leave him in the past so that I

l-life examples of inspiration for him. In the spring, if I could bring myself to it, I might truly want to find s

lessing. I could calm m

fee and roasting meat drove me bonkers to the point where I went downsta

going on with her,” Mom said, without either

she assured me no

d you the truth. A mot

“If you’re so worried about me, well, that’s what happ

ad done the most wonderful thing in the world. Grandpa was quietly p

said, breakin

lot of unfinished business!”

ancing towards the kitchen. I sat down gently

three years, there was no recognition for you, no promotion. And when you think of the magnitude of your boss’s c

was an ass I wanted to s

ne of your books, but I can’t because your boss has taken

did it. With be

honest,

at more wouldn’t be possible with

unsure of m

ow beautiful the snow is?” Joe interrupted my train of thoughts. He always s

rst snowball I made had Joe’s name written all over it. He got it right in t

brought us out of our gloom

that we didn’t keep track

gazing up at the sparkling night sky because I needed my retribution. As a large mal

h of his pricey coat as a direct hi

it wasn’t my father and it

, and he was f