Page 9 of The Hotel Room

“Thank you,” he murmured.

Kate watched him from the kitchen as he grabbed his suitcase, waving goodbye to the kids and giving her a light brush of his lips.

The door closed behind him with a quietclick.

Maybe the logistics were hard. Maybe it was last minute. But if he was stressed and worn down like he seemed—then wouldn’t it be worth it to show up for him?

He would love it.

A surprise.

No kids. No routines.

Just them, the way they used to be before life got so complicated.

The idea settled deeper in her chest, warm and certain.

She could make it happen.

She’d call Leah to watch the kids. She’d book her own flight.

She didn’t mind making those sacrifices at all.

It would all be worth it when James opened his hotel door and saw her standing there.

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The doorbell rang just as Kate finished double-checking her overnight bag.

Perfect timing.

She zipped the small suitcase closed, smoothing her hands over the soft fabric before hurrying downstairs. Leah stood on the porch, holding a reusable coffee cup and wearing her signature oversized sunglasses.

“Hey, sis,” Leah greeted, stepping inside, her eyes sweeping over Kate’s perfectly curled hair and the overnight bag at her feet. “Wow. Hope your husband appreciates all this effort. Off to seduce him in some fancy hotel suite, huh?”

Kate rolled her eyes, ignoring the comment as she gestured Leah further inside. “Thanks for coming. The kids are upstairs finishing homework. Noah has his phone glued to his face, as usual, and Lily’s supposed to read for thirty minutes before bed. Emphasis on ‘supposed.’”

Leah gave a dramatic sigh, placing her coffee cup on the kitchen counter. “Right. Responsible aunt mode activated. Should I prepare for pre-teen meltdowns or emotional teenage angst?”

Kate laughed. “They’re fine, Leah. I’m not leaving for a week. Just overnight.”

“Still. You’re surprising James while he’s on a business trip? Very…intimate.” Leah's eyes narrowed slightly, lips curving into a smirk. “Let me guess. New lingerie in the bag?”

Heat bloomed in Kate’s cheeks as she turned to the fridge, grabbing a sticky note with the emergency numbers she'd written out earlier. “You’re ridiculous. But yes, I wanted to do something special. Things have been so…busy lately. With the kids, his work. We’ve barely had time for just us.”

Leah leaned against the counter, arms crossed, her smirk softening. “That’s sweet. Really. I admire your optimism.”

Kate frowned, setting the note on the counter. “Optimism?”

Leah shrugged, swirling what was left of her coffee. “You know me. I’m just saying…all this effort for a grand romantic gesture after how many years? It’s a lot of work to keep the spark alive for that long.”

Kate blinked, heart tightening in a way she hadn’t expected. “It’s not work, Leah. I want to make him feel special. We still make each other feel special.”

“Sure.” Leah’s voice softened but didn’t lose that note of gentle skepticism. “You’re lucky, Kate. I mean that. Not everyone finds someone they can actually make it last with. I’ve tried. More than once.”

Kate exhaled, leaning against the counter. “That’s different. You’ve never really—” She stopped, choosing her words carefully. “You don’t…stay.”

Leah’s smile thinned. “And maybe I’m realistic. People change. People get bored. Staying together forever? I don’t know. It sounds nice in theory, but how do you know James won’t get restless one day?”

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