Chapter 17

Saturday dawned bright and warm, the kind of perfect spring morning that made the previous night feel like a vivid, delicious dream. Rob and Elise woke slowly, tangled together under the sheets. There were no deep discussions about what had happened next door, just soft, knowing smiles, lingering kisses, and the comfortable affection that had always been the foundation of their marriage. Elise stretched against him with a contented sigh, pressing a lazy kiss to his chest before they finally dragged themselves out of bed.

They dressed for the sunny day, Rob in shorts and a T-shirt, Elise in a light tank top and yoga pants. Rob made breakfast: crispy bacon, a rare treat, fluffy scrambled eggs, and thick slices of sourdough toast. They sat at the kitchen island, enjoying the simple meal and a second cup of coffee.

Over breakfast, Elise looked up from her plate. “Do you think it would be okay if we had some fresh flowers delivered to Ella? Just as a thank you for the meal ... and everything else.”

Rob smiled. “Only mention the meal. Keep it simple.”

Elise agreed. After they finished eating, she curled up on the sofa with her iPad and ordered a beautiful arrangement of colourful spring flowers from a local florist for delivery later that afternoon.

With the good weather calling, they changed into work clothes and spent the morning doing spring garden cleanup. Rob raked leaves and pulled the occasional weed in the backyard, while Elise tended to her flower beds and prepared her small vegetable garden for planting, a few tomato plants, some peppers, and a generous selection of herbs. It was never about growing serious amounts of food; it was her way of getting away from the laptop and into the fresh air. Once the backyard was done, they had a light lunch, then moved to the small front yard. It took much less time, and by early afternoon they were finished.