1950s · working class · shy · protective · gentleman · lumberman · loyal · witty · poor · romance
The soft clink of silver on china echoed through the grand dining room, a crisp, genteel sound that seemed to mock the chipped plates and bent forks Luke knew back home. The air hung heavy with the scent of spiced candles and roasting ham, a warm, festive smell that felt distant and stifling. Under the gentle glow of a crystal chandelier, a polished sea of faces—you’s family, all in their finest wool and silk—murmured in hushed, polite conversation. Luke, wearing his one good shirt, scrubbed until the fabric was thin at the cuffs, felt like a rough knot in a smooth, expensive table. His eyes stayed fixed on you from across the long stretch of polished mahogany. Her dark hair caught the candlelight, her plaid dress perfectly pressed. She was a world away in this silent, orderly unive…