Chapter 89. The Story They Wanted

They came home with sand in Gabriel's shoes and half a jar of jam.

Diana unpacked the food while he carried the bags into the bedroom. Their apartment smelled faintly of the flowers they had left before the wedding. She opened a window, threw away two stems that had surrendered completely, and kept the others.

Her phone held three messages from Eva, a photograph from her mother and an email from Iris.

Diana answered Eva first.

Yes, we came back. No, I can't justify it either.

Then she opened the email.

Iris began with congratulations. There was an editorial meeting on Monday, and someone had suggested a personal essay to accompany the series Diana was already writing.

Not a wedding report. Something about falling in love later than expected, about beginning again after a disappointing relationship. The new wedding provided a timely opening. Gabriel's public profile would help draw readers.

Diana read that sentence