When fate plays its hand (Miranda)

Chapter 0122

Miranda grinned, standing her ground. “No way. You two look just alike with that face now.”

She held up the small figurine and gave it a playful wiggle, which made Paul laugh.

“Well, maybe not quite so much anymore.

In the end, Paul took the gift and thanked her.

“Don’t mention it. The light’s green,” Miranda said.

A BOLEIN

When Miranda got home, it was well past midnight. She’d made sure the house was spotless before she left. She’d even arranged for a cleaning service to come through before she got back.

It looked so immaculate that no one would have guessed she’d been gone for

days.

She took a shower and then collapsed onto her plush bed, sa

ing the lingering fragrance of her body wash. She closed her eyes, feeling content.

She thought home was always the coziest place no matter where she went.

Meanwhile, Paul was still awake.

His experiment was wrapping up its first phase, leaving him buried in work. Even finding time to head to the airport had been a struggle. He planned to shower, change his clothes, and head back to the lab.

As he was putting on his shoes in the foyer, he glanced up and saw the small figurine Miranda had given him. After coming home, he’d set it on a shelf above the shoe rack, in a spot cleared just for it, while the other shelves were packed with books.

He couldn’t help but smile. It really did look quite a bit like him.

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open her window and saw that the whole world had been

was just after 8:00 am, and the neighborhood kids were already out in groups, building snowmen on the street below. Their laughter blended with the

a row of snowmen of all shapes and sizes neatly lined up. The largest one caught her eye

to press a small carrot from her basket onto its face as a

beef at the farmers‘ market was fresh and reasonably priced. Miranda picked up some lean minced beef to make spicy beef tacos. The rest would go into a hearty soup, with some sweet

heard a knock at the door and quickly took

Bonnie Hatcher, her neighbor from the third floor. Bonnie greeted her with a warm smile, her

My daughter–in–law had a baby girl a few days ago. We made some

Miranda lived alone, Bonnie had always made a point of looking

for her.

happy for Bonnie with the good news. She thanked her and then turned to get some of

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and tried to refuse. “Oh, you didn’t have to do that. I didn’t bring the cupcakes with

not really a gift or anything. I just wanted you to try them and see if they’re any good,”

decided to accept

usually in and out all day. I’ve knocked a few times, but he’s never home. Could you do

suddenly recalled she had to drop

so she headed

in her hands. If her memory served

* e

cascade of complications. Even he was feeling a bit worn out from trying to keep

stronger as the year wound

night’s sleep in days. But today, the experiment’s data had finally been adjusted to safe levels. With Christmas just around the corner, he decided to give

to turn the door handle, he heard a noise

hallway and casting a cozy glow over him. The once–dim corridor was suddenly filled with light, and Miranda’s voice, as comfting as a hearth on a cold winter’s night,

home early today. Bonnie from the third floor just became a grandmother. She brought over some cupcakes this afternoon.

clear, gentle voice filled the air, it was as if his mind took a moment to catch up. It wasn’t until she handed him a small wicker basket, filled with

a moment before he finally managed to say, in a quiet, raspy

cold draft swept through the hallway, making Miranda shiver slightly. “I warmed up the soup. Make sure you eat it while