1433 word(s)PublishedExcerpt 2b.  Several hours later, Anarieveta admitted to herself that she's happy again for the first time in a long time. Genuinely, womanly happy. He was right there in the kitchen with her when she was making omelets and he found every reason to make her laugh. At first, it was difficult—she doesn't really have a lot to smile about. But he was always making jokes. And when jokes weren't working much, he told her stories about his children in the past. The stories were so funny, they made her smile. Smile so hard. Laugh. It didn't take long before she was laughing out loud as he told her tales elaborately. They ate together. Went out on a walk together. When they got back, they sat in the wooden chairs in the backyard, talking with each other. It was beautiful. It made Anarieveta so happy

 1499 word(s)PublishedExcerpt 3b. Final Excerpt. Hours later, the sun is down. The moon rose high in the sky, glowing beautifully with the stars surrounding it. Anarieveta got down from the carriage, paid the carriage-rider some coins, and watched him drive away. Then, she entered the huge property of the Raskins. Staring at the elegantly decorated big home, she contemplated knocking on that huge door several feet away from her. There's no turning back now. Her baby, Merrily, needs her. With that in mind, she covered the distance and knocked on the door, her heart in her throat. The door swung open. Gedony Raskin stood tall behind the door. The sleepy look fled from his eyes as he saw Anarieveta standing uneasily behind his door. When he sent out that crazy message about Merrily being sick and needing her, he never expected that s