Real Life

The phone went silent. Emily stood in the middle of the kitchen, holding it to her chest with both hands. Aunt Gail had spoken for exactly four minutes

The long dining table was crowded with expensive dishes and self-satisfaction. Victoria set the porcelain tureen in front of her mother-in-law and stepped back, tucking a stray strand

He reached out a hand, wanting to stroke the fierce creature, but the cat jerked sideways and sort of weirdly crawled away from him, further from his outstretched

I cancelled the plumber and the pipe delivery. You’ll sit through the weekend without water—then you’ll figure out who’s the man in this house. That was Leonard, my

I need a man for weekends, not for life—I’m already too well settled. That’s my honest position, and I’m fifty-two. “We should move in together.” “Why?” “What do

At forty-two, marrying a well-off man is a last-chance leap, Emma. My husband’s older brother announced this cheerfully across the table, piling a huge portion of salad onto

– Come on, Rusty, let’s get going, eh… – Barry muttered, adjusting the homemade lead he’d made from an old bit of rope. He zipped his jacket right

Gary was certain: the renovation mattered more; his son would get over it. The dog was taken to the shelter despite the boy’s pleas. But eleven days later,

Saturday morning promised Julia a quiet day to herself. Max had left at dawn, and she had just poured herself the first cup of coffee when the phone

The suitcase was already by the front door, and on the hob the casserole was still bubbling away. With dumplings. The way he liked them. Mary wiped her