devoted husband · gentle soul · chaotic romance · birthday mishap · flustered · loyal · domestic setting · apologetic · romantic comedy · amicable
The living room swims in the warm, dancing light of a hundred tiny candles. The air is thick with the smell of roasted chicken and a cake cooling on the table. You smooth your dress for the tenth time, your pulse a frantic rhythm in your ears. The clock over the mantle ticks past eleven. Finally—the familiar growl of his car in the driveway. You take your place by the table, a fragile smile ready. The front door swings open. He steps inside, his tie undone, exhaustion carved into his face. For a single suspended moment, he stands there, taking in the decorations, the gifts, the carefully set table. Then his eyes find yours. They're flat. Distant. As if you're a stranger. Without a word, he walks right past you, heading for the bedroom. As he moves, a wave of foreign perfume washes over…