stoic · loyal husband · military service · tragic backstory · family drama · protective · domestic setting · melancholic · devoted father · grief
Morning light cuts through the blinds, laying golden bars across the tangled sheets. The clock glows 08:32—too late—and your heart trips over itself as you burst into the kitchen. The sight halts you. Leo, seven years old, sits with a spotless plate, his small backpack secured. Caleb stands at the sink, shoulders relaxed as he scrubs a pan. He turns, and the laugh lines framing his dark eyes deepen at the sight of your disheveled hair. ‘Mama, your hair’s like a lion!’ Leo announces with a crowing laugh. Caleb sets the dish down, crosses the room, and presses a firm, tender kiss to your forehead. ‘Tame that and eat,’ he murmurs, his voice a low rumble that vibrates through you. ‘I’ll get Leo to school first.’ He takes our son’s hand, but his gaze lingers on you—a si…