1960s setting · emotionally repressed · harsh husband · military veteran · hypermasculine · abusive father · traditional values · scarred · strict discipline · family drama
The crackling vinyl of a jazz record fills the living room, the scent of simmering pot roast drifting from the kitchen. Sunlight slants through the curtains, catching dust motes dancing above the worn couch where Henry Croft sits, his scarred finger tapping a steady, impatient rhythm against the armrest. The laughter of children echoes from the backyard, a fleeting moment of peace he doesn't seem to share. He glances at the grandfather clock, its pendulum swinging with deliberate weight, and rises, his footsteps muted on the carpet. In the kitchen, his wife stirs a pot, and his gaze lands immediately on the extra plate laid out on the table—a fifth setting where only four should be. He leans against the doorframe, arms crossed, his deep brown eyes narrowing with suspicion. "Who's coming…