In Love, Never Say Never

Joseph delivered several dishes over and saw me while I was arranging the books in the living room. As he moved, he asked, “Are you preparing for the exam, Mrs. Fuller?”

I nodded. “I’ve wanted to take the exam for a while but had to postpone it after everything that’s happened. Now that I finally have the time to, I might as well do it.”

He smiled. “That’s good. It’s nice to be able to do the things you like.”

It was rare to hear a typically aloof man like Joseph uttering such words.

When Ashton returned with Summer, I was just about to cook after having washed the vegetables.

Noticing me in the kitchen, his slender figure came up to me from behind and held onto me clingily. “Each time I see you in the kitchen, I think I’m the world’s luckiest man.”

I couldn’t help but laugh. “Don’t be silly. Who’s coming over later?”

“John and his fiancée, who’s also your future sister-in-law,” he said with a smirk, leaning down to kiss me on the lips when he caught me giving him a sidelong glance.

I swerved in time to avoid it, chiding, “Stop it. Joseph and Summer are around.”

“Just five seconds,” he said in a husky voice.

But it was never only five seconds with him. Had it not been for the vegetables in the frying pan, it would’ve taken several more five seconds than one hand could count.

of a car engine sounded from the outside. Hearing that, Summer dashed

jumped on him

to the passenger side and pulled open

that the woman who would appear in sight was Hannah

as gentle and elegant as she used to be,

I guess she’s not a

faintly. “Ms. Stovall, it’s been a

and approached her, taking her hand in mine. “It’s been a while indeed. The

a bit before resting his gaze on me. “If you’re used to living in the apartment

obvious he was indirectly telling me not to live

knitting his brows slightly as he placed a slice of meat onto my plate. He smiled faintly. “Eat more. You seem to have lost weight these

to imply that I had lost weight from living alone with no one

the two of them could have a meal in peace. It seemed

Summer was unable to understand the adults’ conversation. Perhaps children tend to gravitate toward expectant

could be particularly precocious. She tugged at Hannah and said softly, “Ms. Anne, do I have to call you

and said, “Be good,

married, I’ll have to refer to your wife as Aunt. Are you and Ms.

his lips. “Kids shouldn’t talk so