A few minutes later, the kitchen was bathed in the soft, flickering amber glow of three thick pillars. The atmosphere shifted. The shadows on the walls made the room feel smaller, more intimate. They moved to the living room sofa, the chill of the power outage bringing them closer together for warmth.
Around 10:00 PM, the power flickered and then died, plunging the house into darkness. Elena gasped, but Julian’s calm voice immediately grounded her. "Stay put. I saw some candles in the hallway earlier." A few minutes later, the kitchen was bathed
The front door creaked open, and the heavy tread of Mark’s boots echoed in the foyer. The spell broke instantly. Elena stood up, her heart racing as she called out a greeting. Mark entered, shaking off his wet coat, oblivious to the quiet electricity that still hung in the air between his wife and his best friend. They moved to the living room sofa, the
"Don't be silly," Elena smiled, drying her hands and joining him at the bar. "Mark would never forgive me if I sent you to a hotel. Besides, I finally get to hear the real versions of those college stories." "Stay put