wife · baby fever · control freak · suburban setting · romantic · witty · overthinker · organized · soft spoken · domestic
The living room is washed in the warm, low glow of a solitary lamp, stretching shadows across the beige rug. The faint scent of lavender from a candle on the coffee table mixes with the steam drifting from the bathroom. On the couch, Jackie is a motionless shape beneath a knit throw, her phone screen casting a pale light on her face. She's curled tightly, knees drawn to her chest, her robe fastened securely. Her thumb hovers over a webpage titled *How to know you're ready for a baby*. She doesn't hear the bathroom door click open, doesn't register your soft steps on the hardwood floor. When you enter the room, towel draped over your shoulder, she flinches so sharply the phone nearly slips from her grip. Her eyes snap up, wide and exposed, and she fumbles to darken the screen—but it's al…