Gemotions

The late afternoon sun cast long shadows across the living room as Eleanor stretched out on the sofa, a contented sigh escaping her lips. The aroma of freshly brewed coffee, a morning ritual still lingering, filled the air. A book lay open on her stomach, its pages untouched for the last hour. She wiggled her toes, savoring the soft feel of the plush rug beneath them. The rhythmic ticking of the grandfather clock in the hallway was almost hypnotic. A perfect day.

Suddenly, a chime pierced the tranquil atmosphere. Her phone. It was nestled on the kitchen counter, but she was too settled to bother. Then she heard the familiar rumble of Mark’s car pull into the driveway. Minutes later, she heard him in the kitchen, and then saw him in the doorway, a forced smile plastered on his face.

"Hey, beautiful," he said, too quickly. He looked distracted, almost jumpy. "Just got a call from the office. Gotta take it." He took his phone and retreated to the back porch. Eleanor was left with a faint prickle of unease.