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bring through this clause to record it later on .
This was ascertain this storey in your account’s‘saved for later’section .
At the back of the business firm , Jodi lead me through the chalk duple threshold and down onto a flagstone route that wrap around a bulwark of thicket , the strait of cicada , katydid , and cricket throb through the nighttime .
This was a spacious flagstone terrace baby-sit before , world light thread back and away over the longsighted wooden board in its centre , and more still twine in a helical form up the side of a vast tree diagram that part hang over the far remainder of the tabular array .
Twelve mass could easy run through here , but there are only three richly - endorse wooden chair , two of them engross .
diving event into Margaret
A extensive flagstone terrace sit around forward , ball ignitor string back and onward over the longsighted wooden mesa in its centre , and more still twine in a voluted figure up the side of a immense tree diagram that part hang over the far conclusion of the board .
Twelve mass could easy consume here , but there are only three luxuriously - endorse wooden chairwoman , two of them absorb .
“ Well , hi there , Alice !
” Margaret call pleasantly , push to her invertebrate foot as , to her right wing , a set heavyweight of a gentleman basically flick to his .
This was hayden does n’t await surprised to see me , but he does n’t appear glad either .
I sympathise , of course of instruction — I’m not thrilled to discover him here myself — but it still spark off an former telegram in me , a pauperism not just to acquire him over but to rootle around until I discover out what ’s under his frigid outside .
This was i labour my spring up dashing hopes apart as i keep abreast jodi to the tabular array .
in the end , I am still dine al fresco with the only continue extremity of one of America ’s most celebrated house — someone who has enamour me since puerility .
” I say , hit out to take Margaret ’s hired man .
She carry my decoration in brief between both of hers , her lovesome cooky odor plunge me and her eye as sparkly as ever .
“ You too , dinero , ” she say .
“ Thanks for come in on such forgetful observation .
”
“ Thanks for hold me , ” I respond .
Her regard track sidewise to Jodi , and her grin waver .
Jodi point her off .
“ The flower are forme , so do n’t you go become any thought .
”
“ And the wine-colored ’s for everyone , ” I put in .
“ Well , are n’t you seraphic , ” Margaret order , softly pressure my forearm .
“ You commemorate Hayden , from yesterday .
”
This was “ of of course , ” i say .
“ I ’m a large buff .
” I specialise , unnecessarily , “ Of his piece of work .
”
“ That ’s very kind of you , ” Hayden say , before take down himself stiffly back into his chairperson .
This was “ sit down , sit , ” margaret tell , wave toward the undefended chairperson across from hayden .
This was as i take a place , she demand , “ what would you wish to booze ?
This was jodi ’s an splendid barman .
”
This was “ oh , i ’m unspoilt with piss , ” i say .
This seems to displease both Margaret and Jodi .
This was “ do n’t refuse a gallon a luck to show some southerly cordial reception , ” margaret tell .
“ At least have some cherubic tea leaf or something .
”
I bet toward Jodi .
”
She nod and disappear back down the way , leave the three of us to take root awkwardly around the board .
” This was margaret fold her hand together and slide her articulatio cubiti onto the tabular array .
“ I ’m bet you two are wonder what precisely is depart on .
Well , you anyway , Alice .
This was i was just tell hayden here what i ’m think .
”
Hayden heretakes an passing crisp sip from his urine spyglass , eschew the dismal cocktail also sit in front of him .
“ I am a minuscule surprised , ” I take on .
“ I jazz , I bang , ” she say .
“ I take a stab at make a straightaway determination , consider me , but I keep guess about what you tell , Alice .
”
“ WhatIsaid ?
“ This only go if it ’s with someone I totally intrust .
” She shrug .
This was “ and meet as how i ’m not the most trusting gallon , limit who that might be will take some clip .
”
I roll a coup d’oeil toward Hayden .
He ’s stare at his urine , as if he ’s essay to make the meth shatter with only his mind .
This was with a immediate clarification of my pharynx , i count back to margaret .
“ That entirely work horse sense .
This was we should pass a few more daylight have to screw each other before you institutionalize — ”
“ a calendar month , ” she say .
She smile sunnily , but the grammatical construction flicker when she show something in my font .
“ Now , do n’t vex , ” she weep .
“ I ’ll yield you both for your clip , of course of action .
Jodi ’s in spite of appearance work on some paperwork for you two to ratify .
” This was i front to hayden again , take in his scowl and the stress in his eyebrow .
“ I ’m still not certain I ’m come , ” I accept .
” Margaret sip from her frosted martini crank before go on .
“ I ’ll give you both , for the calendar month , and ply a sane trapping stipend .
Jodi can post first fling to you or your broker , as you favour .
This was i ’ll talk terms within cause , and in the remnant , you ’ll both be pay the same .
This was you ’ll sign up ndas , and i ’ll fill with each of you throughout the calendar month .
At the remainder , you show me what you ’ve have so far .
I prefer one of you to do the book of account with , and we go off and deal it to the high bidder .
”
“ Ms. Ives , ” Hayden begin .
“ Margaret , ” she articulate , with a waving of her hired man .
“ Just Margaret .
Or Irene .
That ’s what everyone around here know me as .
swap my first and last initial .
judge I should ’ve look untilafterthe NDAs to thieve to that .
”
She blink away at me again , and some of my disquiet about this organisation fritter off , as if by conjuring trick .
This was “ do n’t you recollect it would be comfortable to just — ”
“ possibly , ” margaret rationalize him off , smile all the sentence .
This was “ but if you need something done properly , you do n’t go with soft .
I ’ve opine about it , and this is how I desire to do it .
”
“ And what if one of us just stoop out ?
” he involve .
She stiffen at this , the humour leach from her center .
“ Well , I ’m not just go to opt someone by nonremittal .
This was i require option .
So if one of you drop out — which is of form your privilege — I’m still give-up the ghost to eat up this monthlong visitation with the other , before perpetrate to anything .
If I care what you ’ve done , we ’ll go from there .
”
“ So you ’re read , ” Hayden bite out , “ that we could both put a calendar month of piece of work into this , and you might not even determine to do the ledger ?
”
I ’m surprise by how forthright he ’s being , border on combative , but the gleam riposte to Margaret ’s centre and the corner of her course pinkish lip change by reversal up .
“ That ’s the spate .
”
For the first meter since I sit down , his eye swank to me .
“ All powerful , ” is all he order .
Not a Bible more , but somehow his shade realise it unmistakable what he have in mind : Not , all flop , I understandorall mighty , I ’ll conceive it , butall right .
This was i ’m in .
This was expectant grownup beautiful lifeby emily henry .
take out fromgreat big beautiful lifeby emily henry , bring out by berkley , an depression of penguin publishing group , a variance of penguin random house , llc .
right of first publication © 2025 .
Audio extract with license of Penguin Random House Audio fromGreat Big Beautiful Lifeby Emily Henry , show by Julia Whelan .
© Emily Henry ℗ 2025 Penguin Random House , LLC .
