"My God, the morning is beautiful," Addy thought as she got ready for work. The sun was shining through her window as she dabbed on her moisturizer. She could not remember the last time that she was so cheerful to do anything, even if it was having business lunches back-to-back with investors. The company she was partnered with was an up-and-coming conglomerate. She was their honey pot, there to use her charm to encourage mergers, all with a company credit card at her disposa

Addy and Frances didn't speak to one another for months after their fight. This did not stop Emmet's mission to land Frances a cushy job. He put all of his influence into giving Frances the life Addy would have died for in beautiful Brazil. The two sisters would have probably lived out the rest of their existence contentedly avoiding each other had it not been for a death that Emmet could not publicly ignore that reunited them begrudgingly. The ancient Mother Taylor died as

It was not until the spring that Addy had any visitors. Emmet was communicating less and less frequently with Addy, which they both appreciated. Addy contentedly spent her time reading, painting, or taking hikes around the property. By all accounts, she was now a total recluse, going out of her way to avoid even bumping into the delivery driver from McGlenn's Mart and Bar. It was not that Addy was rude to anyone intentionally; she had simply had her fill with any of the world

Emmet was at work when Addy took her winter things from the closet to put in her luggage. The tight sweaters Emmet required her to wear were placed visibly at the top of her suitcase, plus some secret, comfortable clothing she had purchased for when he was absent, which she anticipated would be often, that she hid in a side compartment. When she was done, she reached for a phone to call a friend to say her goodbyes. Then she stopped herself in the middle of that thought, real

There was never any ease that came with Addy's marriage, unlike what she had expected to set in over time. Emmet had her inside, alone and dressed like a sex doll, those first few years. She was embarrassed to go out in public looking how Emmet expected, yet she also felt guilty if she did not. Her appearance alienated her from other would-be companions. This only pushed Addy to try to tolerate the repelling Frances even more. By now, Frances had finished her degree at the un

Addy would have loved to say that her honeymoon was the opportunity to get to know her now-husband on a much more personal and intimate level. Sadly, long nights of in-depth conversation and romantic embraces were not included at their resort. It seemed that Emmet was making a point of being indifferent at every turn. He did consummate the marriage on the first night but was hardly available thereafter outside of short tourist activities with Addy that ended with them coolly

Addy and her best friend have a huge falling out over Emmet on the big day.

"Mrs. Adeline Taylor. I love how that sounds!" Mrs. Madison squealed as she gestured for Frances to serve the champagne flutes to Addy....