Gemotions

The scent of cinnamon and his aftershave filled the air, a delightful combination that always brought a smile to Amelia’s face. She hummed a tuneless melody as she arranged the wildflowers he’d brought home earlier that day in a vase on the kitchen table. He was in the next room, ostensibly working, but the closed door felt like a slight barrier between them.

She heard a hushed voice, muffled but definitely his. A small knot of curiosity tightened in her stomach. She crept closer to the door, listening intently. It was the low rumble of a familiar voice, but the words were unintelligible. A pang of something unpleasant, like a tiny stone in her shoe, made her shift her weight from one foot to the other.

He emerged, phone already put away, his expression neutral. He flashed her a quick, almost too-bright smile. “Everything alright in here?” he asked, his voice a little too loud. Amelia simply smiled back, reaching out to touch his arm.