My phone buzzed on the counter again. I didn’t even need to look. I already knew. Still, I checked the screen. A message from our newest babysitter, Bella: “Hi Ivy, I’m sorry, but I won’t be continuing with your family. Thank you for understanding.” That was it. No explanation. No hint of what went wrong…. CONTINUE READING »
I looked into the living room where my five-year-old daughter Mia was humming to herself, building a tower with blocks. Noah clumsily waddled over to her and squealed with delight when she let him knock it down. They were good kids—kind, playful, never destructive or rude. So why did every sitter bolt within 48 hours?… CONTINUE READING »
I nodded. “And I can’t figure it out. I interview them, I check references—they’re all amazing. Then they quit without warning.” Natalie took a long sip of her coffee, brows furrowed in thought. “You don’t think it’s the kids, do you?” “No,” I said firmly. “Mia’s polite and Noah is a handful, sure, but he’s… CONTINUE READING »
My husband Nate has always been a calm, grounded man. While others chase flashy things, he finds peace in the soil, tending to his roses and herbs after work. It’s his therapy, his way of staying centered.But not everyone understood him. My sister-in-law Clara and her husband James often looked down on Nate. One evening,… CONTINUE READING »
He implied Nate should get a “real job.” Clara laughed, but Nate simply smiled, sipped his water, and said nothing. That’s the kind of man he is — quiet, steady, and never one to argue.Two days later, the tables turned. James had just started working under a new department head after a company merger. To… CONTINUE READING »
The same man he had dismissed at dinner was now the one leading his team.Nate didn’t gloat or remind James of his words. Instead, he treated him like any other employee — fairly and professionally. That, more than anything, left the deepest impression.
At home, Nate still spends his evenings in the garden, calm as ever. And now, James sees the man he once underestimated in a very different light.
Sadie planned every detail of her brother’s wedding—the venue, the cake, the guest list… or so she thought. On the big day, Sadie learns the harsh truth: she wasn’t invited. Now, with a broken heart and a perfectly frosted cake, she’s ready to find out whether forgiveness is sweeter than revenge. I’ve always been the… CONTINUE READING »
But Noah was clearly in love. Starry-eyed and naive, the way only someone smitten can be. So when Vanessa asked if I’d help with their wedding, I agreed. Not for her. For Noah. I helped design the invitations, organized the vendors, handled scheduling, and—since I own a bakery—I baked their wedding cake myself. I even… CONTINUE READING »
I flipped through the options. Vanilla? Too safe. Lemon? Too tart. Red velvet? Vanessa hated it. I stared at a blank page, thinking of Noah. Then it hit me. Chocolate and peanut butter. It had been his favorite since we were kids—Mom used to make chocolate peanut butter cupcakes before every soccer game. He’d sneak… CONTINUE READING »