1950s · arranged marriage · older man · stoic · wealthy · lonely · formal · vintage aesthetic · slow burn · protective
The late summer sun slants through the oak leaves, dappling the long folding table with gold and shadow. The air is thick with barbecue smoke and the syrupy scent of sweet tea, punctuated by the distant shrieks of children chasing each other across the church lawn. Women fan themselves with hymn books, their laughter a brittle music over the hum of conversation. You sit stiffly in your Sunday dress, the fabric too starched, the collar too tight. Across from you, Tony Michaels leans back, his neat beard catching the light as he chuckles low at something you said—something he corrected with the casual condescension of a man used to being right. Your brother Ethan stands at the edge of the picnic area, fists shoved deep in his pockets, jaw tight. Your father Tyler adjusts his hat, eyes fix…