Afterward, Doris slept soundly, a smile curving her lips as she dreamed of nothing but the most contented thoughts. The morning light gradually crept into the room, coaxing her from her slumber, and she blinked sleepily, her eyes slowly opening. The world seemed fresh and new, and for a moment, she simply lay still, enjoying the feeling of complete relaxation that washed over her. Brad, on the other hand, was still sleeping, his dark lashes fanning his cheeks, his breathing deep and even. The sheet had twisted around his waist, but he didn't seem to notice or mind. His face was turned towards her, his features relaxed in sleep, a hint of a smile lingering on his lips. He looked younger in repose, more carefree, and Doris couldn't help but fall over and over again for him. They were not quite touching, and as she watched the steady rise and fall of his shoulders she changed her position slightly, closing the distance between them, until the barest whisper of her skin met his. T
BEFORE DORIS knew it, November was over. She felt as if all she'd done was blink and the month had disappeared. Looking back, she believed that despite her occasional qualms about her relationship with Brad and where it would ultimately end, November was probably the happiest month she'd ever had. Doris sent up a silent prayer, hoping that the warmth and joy of November would continue into December and beyond. She knew that life was filled with ups and downs, and she couldn't expect everything to be perfect, but she held onto a small spark of hope. Perhaps, she thought, if she could keep her focus on the good things, the bad things wouldn't seem so overwhelming. With that in mind, Doris picked up the heavy platter of whole-grain pancakes shaped in perfect triangles, balancing it carefully in her hands as she followed Mrs. Hopkins into the dining room. The elderly housekeeper carried a platter of eggs and fresh fruit, her face beaming with pride. Doris set the pancakes d
"WHOA!" Jason's eyes widened. "I knew you'd succeed at getting your head out of your ass," he said, slapping Brad on the back with a hearty laugh. He was perhaps a little too enthusiastic with the gesture, as Brad began to choke on his wine. "Easy there, killer!" Brad said, coughing and sputtering. "I'm not trying to die before my time." Brad had taken Jason to enjoy a drink at the wet bar when Doris had pulled Evelyn away to give her a tour of her own apartment and the kids had run off to the playground. "Oh! Sorry, sorry," Jason laughed, giving Brad a not-so-sorry look. "I just can't help but be happy for you, my friend. You're finally getting your head out of the clouds and seeing things clearly. And I'm here to help you celebrate. Come on, let's toast to your newfound clarity," he said, raising his glass. "To Brad, the man who finally woke up and loved someone!" "Thanks, I guess," Brad said, clinking his glass against Jason's with a grin. "But all I said was my re
DORIS COULDN'T BELIEVE IT! The holidays had crept up on her before she knew it and now it was Christmas Eve. She was sitting in the car with her son, on their way to the Evans mansion to dine with her father and his new girlfriend. Her father had called her a couple of days before, being all dramatic, telling her that she had "forgotten" about her "poor old man" now that she was in love. She had brushed him off immediately. But he'd been persistent, insisting that she had a meal with him and his girlfriend, saying they had something important to tell her. Doris wasn't sure what it could be, but she had a feeling that was going either a marriage announcement or something else that would be pure drama. She could only hope that whatever it was, it wouldn't cause too much of a scene on Christmas Eve. As they pulled up to the large, stone mansion, Doris noticed that it was decorated for the holidays, with twinkling lights and wreaths adorning the windows. The driveway was
"HELLO!" LYDIA waved at Doris who did not respond but stared at her with her mouth still hanging loose in shock. "Here, take a seat, we've been waiting for you," Charles said, pulling out a chair for Lydia. "Thank you," Lydia said as she sat down. "I'm sorry I'm late. The traffic was tragic." Then, she glanced at Sam. "Hello, Mom. How have you been?" Sam beamed. "So far, so good. You?" "Same old," Lydia replied, and then slowly, she turned her attention back to Doris who was still flummoxed. She smiled at her. "You know, I get exactly how you feel at the moment. I had the exact expression on my face when the news was broke to me a few days ago." Doris blinked, struggling to comport herself. "How?" She managed to drag the word out of her throat as she turned to her father for an explanation. "And did she just call her, Mom?" Charles cleared his throat. "Doris, let me explain. . ."~~ It had all started back in college when Charles and Sam had first met. Th
IT WAS FINALLY CHRISTMAS! And Jason Lyndon's "Legendary" Christmas Party was already in full swing. The ballroom of the Avalon Grand Hotel glittered and sparkled, a vision of opulence and extravagance. Chandeliers dripped with crystals, reflecting the light from hundreds of flickering candles. The floor was polished marble, and the walls were draped in rich fabrics. But it was the people who really made the room sparkle. Hollywood stars, tech billionaires, politicians, and fashion icons, all dressed to the nines, chatted and mingled, their laughter filling the air. The band played a jazzy holiday tune, and champagne flutes clinked in celebration. The room was alive with the magic of the season, but underneath it all was a feeling of desperation, a sense of needing to be seen and to be a part of the spectacle. The buffet table was a wonder to behold. An ice sculpture of a Christmas tree sparkled in the center, and around it were a multitude of delectable dishes.
NO WORDS describe the chaos at which Jason Christmas Party's had ended last night. From Brad losing his control and yelling at his ex-wife for coming back into his life to torture him again to Doris, getting in the center of the fire for bringing her to the party to Lydia, making matters worse by replying back to her ex-husband by the same energy. It was way too turbulent that Jason had been forced to make the difficult decision to end the party early. The atmosphere had become so tense and volatile that he feared what might happen if they continued to confront each other. So he had urged everyone to leave, to go home and calm down. But for Doris, there would be no calming down. All she had only wanted to do was to spend time with her friends and introduce them to her new family, but instead, she had ended up in the middle of a maelstrom of drama and emotion, stuck in the eye of the storm, unable to escape the turmoil that had engulfed her. She'd taken a taxi back ho
DORIS WAS way beyond furious. The heat of wrath emitting from her body as she rode into the Evans Mansion was capable of changing the season from winter to summer. She was mad at everyone. Brad, Lydia, Sam, her father. . . even the silly security man who couldn't tell she wasn't in the mood for pleasantries. Her anger was like a volcano about to erupt, the pressure of her emotions building to a boiling point. She wanted to lash out, to take her fury out on anyone and everyone. She felt betrayed, angry, and hurt, and she didn't know what to do with all the conflicting emotions raging inside her. Doris stormed into the front door of the Evans Mansion like a hurricane, her anger sweeping through the air like a gust of wind. The staff cowered as she passed, her eyes blazing with fury. She made a beeline for the study where she was certain she would find her, the sound of her heels on the marble floor echoing through the halls. As she entered the room, she saw her father sitti