𝐊𝐀𝐋𝐎𝐏𝐒𝐈𝐀 · "𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐞𝐥𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐛𝐞𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐦𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐛𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐟𝐮𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐲 𝐚𝐫𝐞."
After losing her job and being left at the altar, Dr. Fiona Page is left to pick up the pieces of a "picture perfect" lif...
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CW: Discussions of mass tragedies (The Oklahoma City Bombing) and the death of children.
Usually, people go into a particular research area with a "why" - something they want to explore. It could be something personal, it could be curiosity, it could be to broaden the scholarship in that area. I chose my area of research because my biological dad spent part of my childhood in the criminal justice system. Fiona chose her area of research for a very personal reason.
This chapter is all from her POV, you'll get James's in the next chapter. This is part one of two of the dinner party.
"He is exactly the poem I wanted to write." - Mary Oliver
FIONA
Sam's house didn't look the same way she remembered it on New Year's Eve. She was also a lot more sober this time around. As the Uber pulled up, they thanked the driver and stepped out, with Fiona helping Bea because her heels were too high even though she insisted that they weren't.
They walked down the long driveway in silence until Bea turned to her, still a little wobbly in her shoes.
"You ready?"
"I think so," Fiona whispered. "I don't really know, though."
Bea reached out and squeezed her hand gently.
"You'll be okay. You've got this."
"Yeah," Fiona whispered. "I got this."
Her heart was pounding. She had mostly avoided James after the whole breakfast sandwich incident. Yelena told her that he had stopped by her office on the morning she delivered the sandwich to him, but James never told Yelena why he was there. Fiona assumed... well, she didn't really know what to assume.
They reached the front door, and just as Fiona went to raise her hand to knock, Bea beat her to it. Fiona instead glanced behind her.
"You're looking for him, aren't you?"
"I'm not," Fiona whispered.
Before Bea could retort, the door opened and Sam appeared with a big smile on his face. He was dressed in a dark red dress shirt with the sleeves rolled up to the elbows, and a pair of black dress pants.
"You made it!" He announced with open arms. "Welcome!"
"Thank you," Fiona chuckled as Sam gave her a hug.
She owed him a lot for taking a chance on her when he didn't have to.
"Thanks for coming. It means a lot." He then hugged Bea and ushered them both inside, helping them out of their coats. "You guys look great!"
