Abby
Our feet are sore as we make our way down the quaint market street, but my entire body feels loose and rxed after the full
day of hard work.
It seems as though the first snow yesterday has led everyone to get into the holiday spirit, and the stores are all bursting with
people excitedly doing their gift shopping. The storefronts are all festively decorated with vibrant green wreaths and bright red
ribbons, and people in equally festive outfits are standing on street corners ringing donation bells.
“| should do some gift shopping while I’m here,” | say, holding my warm cup of hot apple cider between my hands as we walk.
I stop and peer into a chocte shop window, looking at all of the tantalizing sweets on disy. There’s a couple with a little
toddler inside, and the toddler is excitedly pointing his tiny little finger at a chocte rabbit in the case.
“That actually reminds me,” Karl says, following my gaze, “I haven''t even thought about what I''ll be getting for people this year. |
was thinking | should treat the staff at home to something nice.”
As he speaks, it reminds me of what Elsie had said earlier. It''s yet another reminder that maybe, just maybe, Karl has changed
from the gruff and cold Alpha | used to know into someone who''s a bit warmer and more open.
Karl and | continue walking side by side, weaving our way through the crowds. | steal a quick nce at him as we walk, his
profile illuminated by the warm glow of the streetmps.
He looks content, rxed even, which is a rare sight for the Alpha | used to know. | find myself wanting to break thefortable
silence that has settled between us.
“So, why did you change your mind, Karl?” | finally ask, my voice soft but curious.
He turns to look at me, his expression thoughtful. “Change my mind about what?” he replies, feigning innocence.
| raise an eyebrow, knowing he’s just ying coy. “About volunteering,” | say, not letting him off the hook so easily. “I thought it
was ‘below your pay grade’, wasn’t it?”Content is property of N?velDrama.Org.
Karl lets out a sigh. “I know | said that all those years ago,” he says quietly. “And honestly, the only reason why | volunteered
today was for publicity before the election.”
| wait patiently for him to continue, knowing that he likely had a change of heart throughout the day.
He takes a sip of his cider before continuing. “But today, | think | realized that it was actually kind of... fun,” he admits. “Helping
people, making a difference in their lives, even if it’s in a small way. It felt... fulfilling, to say the least.”
“It''s not just about approval ratings or good press,” | say. “It’s about making a difference and connecting with yourmunity.
And it seems like you realized that today.”
He nods. “Yeah, yeah, | know. Who told you, by the way? About the approval ratings?”
| can’t help but smirk. “Marcus.”
“Always Marcus,” Karl says, rolling his eyes although | can tell there’s no real heat in it.
We continue our walk, passing by shops filled with holiday shoppers searching for the perfect gifts. As we approach a cute
boutique with a disy of baby clothes in the window, though, it makes my heart ache just a little.
I stop in my tracks, my gaze fixed on a tiny pair of shoes in the window. They’re a bright red color, perfect for winter. And they''re,
so, So unbelievably small. I’m instantly transported back to the Alpha gathering, when | saw those two adorable kids.
In a way, I’m d that Karl and | never had kids together because of the divorce, but | do still wish we had. Finding out that |
might not be able to have kids of my own was so heartbreaking.
Karl notices my change in demeanor and turns to me with concern in his eyes. “Abby, is something wrong?”
I sigh, my gaze still fixed on the baby clothes. “It’s just that,” | start, my voice wavering slightly, “seeing those baby clothes
reminds me of the Alpha gathering and all those adorable kids.”
Karl’s expression softens, and he ces aforting hand on my shoulder. “I can tell it''s been on your mind,” he says gently.
I nod, a lump forming in my throat. “Karl, what if... what if | really can never have kids of my own?” | finally admit, my voice barely
above a whisper.
For a while, Karl says nothing. We just stare into the shop window, our faint reflections staring back at us. I’m not sure which
we''re really looking at: the shoes, or the two of us standing side-by-side.
“Do you ever wish we had kids?” he suddenly asks, the wordsing out so fast it seems as though he didn’t intend to say
them.
I''m a bit taken aback by his sudden candor. My lip quivers a bit, and suddenly, I’m d for the mask covering half of my face. But
my sunsses have been off for a while now, and now | can see my eyes in my reflection, and | can see how sad | look beneath
my facade of strength.
I...” Lstammer, unsure of what to say.
Karl suddenly shakes his head. “That was rude of me,” he says, turning away. “I shouldn''t have said that.”
He turns to continue walking, but without really meaning to, my hand involuntarily shoots out and grabs his wrist. He pauses and
turns back to look at me.
“It wasn''t rude,” | find myself saying. |
drop my hand back to my side and)
avert my gaze tothe grotind St
donit Bavelte look into his brown
eyes. “l, um... | guess | do wish we
did, sometimes,” | murmur. “But...
With the divorce...” Please read the
original content at NovelDrama.Org.
Out of the corner of my eyes, | can see Karl nod. “I know,” he says gently. “I can’t imagine how tough that would be, not just on
us, but on the kid. But...”
He pauses, and it’s then that | finally lift my gaze to meet his. “But?” | whisper.
“But,” he continues, running a hand through his hair, “sometimes | wonder if things would have been different if we had just done
it. If we had done the treatments, or hell, if we had adopted.”
His words catch me by surprise. Karl
has never expressed this to me
before, and partef mendes
HeBTIgAE IWant to respond, but |
can''t. My voice is caught in my throat,
and besides, I’m not even sure what |
would say. Please read the original
content at NovelDrama.Org.
Before | cane up with a
response, Karl suddenly offers a
reassuring smi Apes) Goureen
apaztig pérson,’ he says. “And when
the timees, you''ll have your
baby, and you''ll be the best mom
ever. I''m sure of it.” Please read the
original content at NovelDrama.Org.
As he speaks, tearse to my eyes. | find myself quickly looking away, looking back at the little red shoes in the window.
And | can’t help but imagine, just for a moment, a world in which Karl and | are walking into that store and buying those shoes for
our baby.