Abby
After watching Karl leave, | feel like I’m still in a state of shock.
Karl was never the type to volunteer back when we were married. | can actually remember one specific instance when |
volunteered for an event and asked Karl toe along.
His response was anything but enthusiastic. He t out refused, iming that volunteering was “below his pay grade” as an
Alpha. He argued that he had more important things to do, like attending meetings and dealing with important paperwork.
But now, it seems as if Karl’s stance on volunteering has done aplete 180. It’s a little fishy if you ask me. | can’t help but
wonder if he has some ulterior motives for this sudden change or if he’s genuinely evolving as a person.
As I''m lost in thought wandering downstairs to the kitchen, | suddenly run into Marcus. He’s carrying a box and seems to be on
his way out of the house.
“Hey, Abby,” he says as he passes. “Need anything?”
| greet him with a slight smile. “No,” | reply, “But... what’s going on with Karl? Why is he volunteering all of a sudden?”
Marcus raises an eyebrow, as if he’s surprised by my question. “You haven’t heard?” he asks.
I shake my head, genuinely clueless. “No, | haven’t. What’s the deal?”
Marcus lets out a sigh, as if he’s about to reveal some big secret—and maybe even confirm my suspicions. “It’s all about the
election,” he says. “Karl’s approval ratings took a dip, and he’s doing this volunteering thing to boost them up before the election
is announced.”
| can;t help but feel a pang of disappointment. “That''s it?” | ask incredulously. “He’s doing it for his own gain?”
Marcus nods, his expression solemn. “Yeah, it’s a political move,” he admits. “He wants to show the pack that he’s involved in
themunity and cares about their needs.”
| can’t hide my annoyance. | guess | knew all along, but it still stings a bit. “But volunteering should be about genuinely wanting to
help others, not just for the sake of your own image,” | say. “It feels so... insincere.”
Marcus shrugs, as if he’s resigned to the situation. “The world of politics is a beast unto itself, Abby. Sometimes you have to y
by the rules, even if you don’t like them.”
As Marcus walks away, leaving me to think about the situation, | can’t deny the disappointment | feel.
But, there’s nothing | can do about it now. Karl has made up his mind, and he’s got an election to win. | won’t get in the way of
that. And so, with a soft sigh, | make my way to the kitchen where Elsie is already standing by the counter. She’s got the standing
mixer running with a huge lump of dough inside—this week’s bread.
“Morning,” | say as | approach. “Let me help.”
As | help Elsie with the bread, though, my mind is still racing from the conversation | had with Marcus. I’m kneading the dough
with my hands, but my movements are absent-minded, and | must have a faraway look on my face because Elsie finally breaks
the silence.
“You look like you’re miles away from here,” Elsie observes, her eyes focused on her own task of peeling potatoes. “Is something
bothering you?”
| pause for a moment, unsure if it''s even worth bringing up. But Elsie is my friend, and | can’t deny the need to vent just a little.
“Yeah, Elsie,” | finally admit with a sigh. “I am a bit bothered. It’s about Karl.”
Elsie nods understandingly. “I figured as much,” she says. “Did something happen on your double datest night?”
| take a deep breath, trying to put my thoughts into words. “I mean, there was a whole thing with that, | say with a sigh, “but it''s
not just that... | guess | thought Karl was changing. But now, | find out he’s volunteering for purely political reasons, to boost his
approval ratings for the election. It feels so disingenuous.”
Elsie continues kneading and shaping the dough into neat loaves and nods thoughtfully. “Abby, | understand how you feel,” she
says gently. “But sometimes, people change in ways that may not be immediately obvious. Karl hase a long way over the
years, especially in the past few months.”
| look at her, curious. “How can you tell?”
“You remember how mean he used to be as a boss,” she says. “He would yell at the servants and staff, and it wasn’t always a
pleasant environment to work in. Buttely, he;s been treating everyone fairly. He doesn’t yell anymore, and he listens to our
concerns. He’s trying to be a better leader.”
| can’t help but sigh a little. Elsie is right; I''ve been able to see the differences firsthand. Karl’s temper has dwindled, and he’s a
much better listener now.
“But is that really enough?” | ask.
Elsie chuckles. “Maybe it’s not enough,” she says. “But nobody is perfect. We all have our ws and our moments of selfishness.
But it''s important to acknowledge when someone is trying to improve, don’t you think?”
| nod, starting to realize that she might be onto something. | recall the cook-off; it wasn’t something he had to do, but he did it
because he knew it meant a lot to me.
He even spent months working in my restaurant when | was short-staffed. None of that was for political gain; it was because he
genuinely wanted to help me.
| feel a twinge of guilt for sitting here
and judging him now. Maybe ehepld
give him the benesnsFihe doubt.
Apter at people change, and I''ve seen
Karl change in many ways since our
divorce. Please read the original
content at NovelDrama.Org.
“Yeah, | guess you''re right, Elsie,” | concede with a small smile. “I guess | should cut him some ck. After all, I’m far from
perfect myself.”
“Aren''t we all,” Elsie joins in with augh.
As Elsie and | continue working on
the bread, kneading it and shaping it
into loaves to ce op tag war!
prggfing rack Oe it rise, | keep
thinking about what she and Marcus
both said. Politics is a tricky world to
navigate, and maybe | shouldn''t be so
judgmental. Please read the original
content at NovelDrama.Org.
After all, like | said, I’ve got my ws, too. Maybe | shouldn''t judge Karl for something so small when he’s trying his best amidst a
storm of uncertainty.
| realize that maybe I''ve been too
quick to judge, too hasty in my
assumptions. Karl wernt teO
volntgerng tdrlbdrely selfless
reasons, but that doesn’t negate the
positive changes he’s made in his
personal and professional life. Please
read the original content at
NovelDrama.Org.N?velDrama.Org owns all content.
With a newfound determination, | make up my mind. Once the loaves are all on the proofing rack, | turn to Elsie, wiping my flour-
dusted hands off on my apron.
“You know what?” | say as | lift my apron off over my head and hang it back on the hook. “I think I’d like to volunteer a little, too.
Give back to themunity.”
Elsie grins. “That''s the spirit, Abby.”
And so, with that, | grab my baseball hat, sunsses, and blue surgical mask off of the table by the front door and step out into
the morning sunlight.