17. CHAPTER 17
CHAPTER 17
Rose
I could hardly contain my excitement that Willow and Mike would be at Angel's Rest in less than twenty-four hours. The anticipation of their arrival filled me with a burst of energy, which I channeled into transforming the B its branches weighed down with twinkling lights and an eclectic mix of ornaments collected over the years by Malou. At the top, a silver star caught the light, sending soft reflections across the room.
Outside, thanks to Edgar, white lights lined the edges of the roof and windows, turning the B you know that." I focused on writing down the breakfast menu: Eggs Benedict with Hollandaise sauce and yogurt with muesli, blueberries, and honey.
"Did your family like your food?" She sat on one of the armchairs by the fireplace. Angel Island got cold in the winter, and the hearth didn't just give warmth, but also added a gorgeous ambiance. In Atlanta, it never got cold enough—but as soon as it did, I used to light up the gas fireplace. Gray would complain about it being too hot, and I'd open a few windows to make it tolerable. He teased me about that.
Not all twenty years of our life together were bad. There was love and laughter. There were, in fact, more good years and days than bad. It was the past few years, especially since the kids left, that our marriage had become harder to navigate, and my life had turned unbearable.
I miss you, Gray. So, so much.
I heard the bell atop the front door tinkle and put a smile on my face; Malou's mystery friends were here, I thought happily.
My smile froze when I saw Gray walk in.