Page 35 of Red Rose Cupcake

The worst part is, I didn’t even notice it happening until now.

I glance at my phone, tempted to send Rosie a text—something, anything to remind her that I’m still here. But what would I even say? “Miss you” feels too weak. “I’m sorry” feels like I’ve already given up. And I’m not giving up. Not on us. Not on her.

The memory of last night plays in my head. Her coming to bed, slipping under the covers without a word. I wanted to reach for her, but I was dead tired. And now, I regret it. We’re falling into this routine, and it’s dangerous. I can feel it pulling us apart.

I lean back in my chair, my mind spinning. I know exactly where this is heading if we don’t do something—if I don’t do something. I’ve seen it with couples I’ve worked with. The distance grows, they stop talking, and eventually, they start feeling like strangers.

That’s not gonna be us.

I grab my phone and swipe through my contacts, finding my mom’s number. She answers after a couple of rings, her voice bright and cheery as usual.

“Knox, sweetheart! How are you?”

“I’m good, Ma. Listen, I need a favor.”

“Oh? What kind of favor?” Her voice takes on that knowing tone, and I can almost hear her smiling on the other end.

“I was hoping you could watch the kids for a weekend. Just a couple of days. I want to take Rosie somewhere, give us some time alone.”

There’s a brief pause, then, “Of course, sweetheart. You know I’d love to have my grandbabies. It’s been too long since I got to spoil them properly.”

I smile, relieved. “Thanks, Ma. I really appreciate it. We’ve both been… well, we need some time.”

“I know, honey. Marriage isn’t easy, especially with little ones. But you two are strong. I’m glad you’re doing this.”

After hanging up, I lean back in my chair and let out a long breath. Step one, done. Now comes the hard part—actually telling Rosie.

* * *

The drive to pick up Emma from preschool and Jayce from the sitter feels longer than usual. My mind is racing, thinkingthrough every detail of the weekend away. I want it to be perfect—not just for Rosie, but for us. We need this.

Emma hops into the car, chattering about her day, and I smile, glancing at her through the rearview mirror. She’s got Rosie’s eyes, her fiery spirit. “Guess what, kiddo? You and Jayce are spending the weekend with Grandma and Grandpa.”

Her eyes light up. “Really? Are we gonna bake cookies?”

I chuckle. “I’m sure you’ll bake a whole lot more than cookies.”

When we arrive home, I start packing bags for the kids, making sure they have everything they’ll need. Jayce is easy, just a few onesies and his favorite stuffed bear. But Emma? She insists on packing her entire wardrobe, which takes some negotiation to cut down to a reasonable size.

By the time I’m done, the house is quiet again, and Rosie’s still at work. I glance around the place, feeling the emptiness settle over me. This is what our life has become. We’re together, but we’re not really together.

I load the kids into the car and head to my parents’ house. When I pull up, my mom is already on the porch, waving excitedly. She doesn’t wait for me to open the door before scooping Emma into her arms, peppering her with kisses.

“Oh, I’m so glad to have you two here!” she gushes, taking Jayce from his car seat and cuddling him close. “We’re gonna have the best weekend.”

I can’t help but smile at her enthusiasm. My mom has always been the heart of our family, and seeing her with the kids reminds me of the kind of love I want to hold onto with Rosie.

“Thanks again for doing this,” I say, handing her the bags.

“Oh, don’t thank me,” she winks. “I’ve been waiting for this. You and Rosie deserve some time to yourselves. Now go on, don’t worry about a thing. We’ll be just fine.”

I leave my parents’ place with a strange mix of excitement and nerves swirling in my chest. I’ve got the plan in place. Now all I have to do is wait for Rosie to get home.

* * *

ROSIE

The house is eerily quiet when I walk through the front door, and for a moment, I wonder if I’ve somehow stepped into the wrong home. Usually, there’s a cacophony of noise greeting me the moment I walk in—Emma running around, baby Jayce babbling, the TV playing some cartoon in the background. But today? Silence.

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