Sugar And Spice
“How am I going to tell Samuel about my decision?” Kate whispered to herself, taking a deep breath.
She sat in her car, her mind spinning, trying to find the right words to tell Samuel that she had accepted the new case—and with it, the postponement of their wedding. The soft chime of her phone startled her out of her thoughts. She glanced at the screen, and her heart sank. Samuel.
He’s probably wondering where I am, she thought.
Stepping out of the car, Kate smoothed her white knee-length dress, its soft fabric slipping between her fingers as if it could calm her nerves. She made her way to the café where Samuel and Ophelia were waiting. Her long golden curls danced down her back, the late afternoon sun catching the light in her hair. She fidgeted with the black belt cinched around her waist, trying to steady her breathing, the soft click of her white block heels punctuating her growing anxiety.
After her parents died, Samuel and Ophelia had become her world, her only family. Today, she had called them here, hoping she could break the news gently, somehow cushioning the blow.
As Kate stepped into the café, she immediately spotted Samuel and Ophelia sitting by the window. Samuel caught her gaze, his face lighting up as he rose to greet her. The moment she was close, he pulled her into his arms without hesitation.
“There you are,” Samuel whispered as he held her tight. His hands cradled her face tenderly, his thumbs brushing across her cheeks. “I’ve missed you so much.” He leaned down, pressing his lips softly to hers. The warmth of his kiss sent a wave of comfort through her, dissolving some of the tension that had been building up inside.
“I miss you more than you know,” Kate murmured against his lips, her fingers curling into the fabric of his shirt as she kissed him back, letting the familiarity of his touch calm her racing heart.
Ophelia cleared her throat dramatically. “Alright, lovebirds, if you’re done, can we please sit down? I’d like to talk to this always-late lady.”
Kate laughed softly, easing back into the moment. “I’m not always late,” she said, sitting across from them, though the anxiety of the coming conversation still gnawed at her. Samuel’s presence, however, made everything feel a little less overwhelming.
Samuel took his seat next to her, his hand sliding naturally into hers. “You had me worried, you know,” he said gently, his thumb brushing over the back of her hand in slow, comforting circles.
“I know, I’m sorry,” Kate said, her voice soft, but the weight of what she had to say tugged at her. She looked into Samuel’s deep brown eyes, the kindness and warmth there only making it harder. She didn’t want to hurt him.
“What’s going on?” Samuel asked, sensing the shift in her mood, his brows knitting together with concern.
Kate hesitated, feeling Ophelia’s gaze on her too. “I’ve… I’ve taken on a new case,” she finally said, glancing down for a moment before looking back at Samuel. “I didn’t want to, but it’s a big case, and my promotion depends on it. If I didn’t take it, I might lose my job.”
Samuel gave her hand a reassuring squeeze. “It’s okay, Kate. You’re amazing at what you do. Of course, they want you on the case. You can handle anything they throw at you.”
“There’s more,” Kate said softly, her eyes searching his face for understanding. “It’s a murder investigation, and it’s going to take up a lot of time and energy. I—Samuel, I had to postpone the wedding.”
The words hung in the air between them. Samuel’s smile faded, the light in his eyes dimming as the weight of her decision settled in.
Ophelia sighed heavily, crossing her arms. “You’re doing this again, Kate? You postponed the wedding last year for that course in the U.S., and now it’s for a case? A case, Kate?”
“I know how it looks,” Kate said, her voice barely above a whisper, “but I’ve been working so hard for this. I can’t just walk away now. Please, try to understand.”
Samuel was silent for a moment, his eyes dropping to the table. Kate felt her heart squeeze in her chest, terrified of what he might say. But then, he lifted his gaze to hers, his expression softening.
“I understand, Kate,” he said quietly, leaning closer. “I love you. And if this is what you need to do, I’ll support you. You’ve worked too hard for me to ask you to give up something so important to you.”
Kate felt her heart swell with emotion, tears prickling at the corners of her eyes. “Samuel, I… I’m sorry. I didn’t want this to happen, not again. But I can’t let this slip through my fingers.”
“You don’t need to apologize,” he said, his voice tender as he pulled her into his arms again, resting his chin on her head. “We’ll get through this. We’ll have our wedding, Kate. I’m not going anywhere.”
“I don’t deserve you,” Kate whispered, her voice breaking as she held him tightly.
Samuel leaned back slightly, cupping her face with his hands, wiping away the single tear that had escaped. “Yes, you do,” he said firmly. “We’re in this together. I love you, Kate, and I always will. And when this case is over, we’ll get married. And everything will be perfect. Everything.”
Ophelia, still grumbling, shook her head. “You’ve spoiled her, Samuel,” she said, but her tone was softer now, resigned.
Samuel smiled, brushing his lips against Kate’s forehead. “She’s worth it,” he whispered, holding her close as if he could shield her from all the weight of the world.
Kate closed her eyes, letting herself melt into his embrace, her heart full of love and gratitude for the man she was so lucky to call hers.
"If both of you have decided to support this, then what more can I say?" Ophelia said, her tone serious, resigned to their choices.
As she placed the last cookie on the plate, the doorbell rang. Kate wiped her hands on her apron and moved toward the door. But as she swung the door open, her smile faltered. The hallway beyond was cloaked in darkness, the usual hum of the building eerily absent. No one stood there. No cheerful greeting, no familiar face. Just an unsettling void.
Kate leaned forward, her hand gripping the edge of the door as she peered into the dimly lit corridor. Her heart began to quicken, a faint thrumming in her chest that she couldn’t ignore. “Hello? Is someone there? Samuel?” she called out, her voice trembling slightly as it bounced off the walls, returning to her in a hollow echo. There was no response, only the heavy silence that seemed to press in around her.
Then, out of the corner of her eye, she saw it—a shadow. A human-shaped figure moving slowly, almost deliberately, its steps so light and soundless that it seemed to glide rather than walk. The figure’s movements were unnervingly smooth, like a specter drifting through the darkness. Kate’s breath hitched as she watched, her mind racing. The shadow’s presence felt wrong, unnatural, as though it didn’t belong in the world of the living. It reminded her of something out of a nightmare, a devil’s dance, graceful yet menacing.
Her heart nearly stopped, her pulse pounding in her ears like a drum. She took a step back, her voice barely above a whisper as she managed to choke out, “Who are you?” The words hung in the air, heavy with tension, as she waited for a response that didn’t come. The shadow continued to move, its form shifting in the faint light, growing closer yet still indistinct.
Just as fear threatened to overwhelm her, the tension shattered. From the depths of the shadows, Samuel sprang forward, his face breaking into a wide, playful grin. “Gotcha!” he laughed, breaking the stillness. Kate’s hand flew to her chest, her breath escaping in a rush as she stared at him, torn between relief and irritation.
“Samuel! You scared me!” she exclaimed, placing a hand over her heart to steady it.
He stepped closer, still grinning. “Hey, Kate Miller, investigative journalist. You’re brave enough to face the dark, aren’t you?”
She rolled her eyes, trying to mask her surprise with humor. “Brave? Sure. I just didn’t expect a jump scare tonight.”
He laughed, the sound warm and inviting. “Consider it my way of keeping things exciting. I thought you could use a little thrill.”
In one swift movement, he closed the distance between them, his hands resting gently on her shoulders before trailing down her arms, his touch leaving a tingling warmth on her skin. He leaned in close, his lips brushing softly along her neck, then pressing a slow, lingering kiss to her collarbone. A soft gasp escaped her as his mouth trailed lower, sending waves of heat through her.
"Hey," she murmured, her voice a breathless whisper. "What about dinner?"
His lips curled into a smile against her skin as he whispered, "No need. I need you. I'm absolutely thirsty for you, Kate." His voice was rough, filled with longing, and she felt her heart race in response.
As his hands slid around her waist, drawing her close, he looked into her eyes, a playful glint flickering in his gaze. “Then I need you to pay the fine,” he teased softly, his voice a low murmur. “For postponing our wedding.” His fingers traced along her jaw, his gaze intense. “Because, Kate, I can’t live without you.”
Samuel pulled her even closer, his gaze darkening with desire. "Time can't keep us apart, Kate," he murmured, his voice deep and filled with promise. "Nothing can."
Kate felt her breath catch as his words wrapped around her like a warm embrace. “You’re right, Samuel,” she murmured, her voice low and sultry. “Thanks for always being there, and honestly, nothing else matters but this moment. Being here with you feels like stepping into a dream, and I never want to wake up.”
They moved together in perfect rhythm, their laughter and whispers blending with the soft glow of the night. Hours later, tangled in each other’s arms, they lay wrapped in the warmth of their shared passion, their breaths mingling. With just a single sheet covering them, nothing else stood between them—only the heat of the moment and the steady beat of their hearts as one.