The red velvet cheesecake was still untouched when the doorbell rang. Just hours earlier, Cora had frosted it with care, part of a Valentine’s surprise to save her crumbling marriage. She and Eric had fallen in love as kindred spirits from foster care, bonding over dreams of family. But after years of parenting triplets and financial strain, their romance had faded to resentment.
That night, she’d worn their “special occasion” dress and transformed their dining room into a lovers’ oasis. The wrapped box contained tickets to Maui and news that she’d secured a better job—her secret plan to give them breathing room. But Eric only saw the dirty dishes. His cruel words about “wasted time” hung in the air as Cora walked out forever.
When officers announced her fatal car accident, Eric’s world collapsed. Discovering her unopened gift days later broke him anew. Now, their children know Hawaii only through photos, and Eric spends each anniversary at Cora’s grave, whispering the apologies she’ll never hear.
