The home was filled with the aroma of freshly cooked lemon cakes. With her hands shaking a little from the excitement that had been building since last night, Rose delicately sprinkled powdered sugar over the cakes. She hadn't felt this giddy in weeks, and for good reason—Kai was coming home.
After weeks away in Merlic, he had called late the previous night, his voice warm and familiar. "I'll be there in a day or two," he had said, and Rose's heart had leapt. The moment she hung up, she could hardly contain herself. She'd rushed to tell her mother, who immediately suggested the idea that had Rose's head spinning ever since.
"A welcome party sounds perfect," her mom had said with a knowing look. "And maybe this time, you can tell him how you really feel."
Rose had flushed at that. It wasn't a secret to her mom anymore that she had feelings for Kai, but the idea of actually confessing to him, especially now after so much time apart, filled her with both excitement and nerves. Still, the thought of seeing him again gave her a burst of energy.
So she had thrown herself into preparing. The house had never looked more inviting. She had decorated the living room with soft string lights, arranged wildflowers in a vase on the kitchen table, and prepared all of Kai's favorite foods. For once, her thoughts weren't weighed down by the conflict in Wisteria, the tension between East and West that had been steadily rising for weeks. Even the worry about her father, who hadn't been home in days, faded into the background.
Today, nothing else mattered. Kai was coming back, and she was finally going to tell him the truth.
She was finally going to be honest with Kai when he returned. Her pulse accelerated as she took another look at the clock. It was almost midday. She could envision him standing there at any moment—the same Kai she had known for years, the one who gave everything a bit more meaning— knocking on the door.
Her mother grinned as she glanced inside the room and saw the snug arrangement. "Rosie, you've truly outdone yourself!" she exclaimed. "He will be thrilled with it." Rose returned the smile, her stomach churning.
She smoothed her dress and took a deep breath. Everything was ready. Now, all she had to do was wait.
YOU ARE READING
A world without you
Mystery / ThrillerRose Ruther Field had been living a perfect life, blessed with a loving family of four, and dreaming of becoming a doctor. Though timid, she took solace in the monotony of her life. However, her simple life was shattered when the war broke out, taki...
