Morning sunlight filtered through the thin curtains of the bedroom, bringing with it the pale brightness of a normal morning.
Bella stood in front of Lucas, adjusting the collar of his shirt while holding the dark blue tie in her hands.
"You always manage to twist this somehow," she muttered as she straightened the fabric.
Lucas looked down at her, amused. "I'm fairly certain ties twist on their own."
"They do not."
"They do."
Bella ignored him and focused on the knot, looping the tie carefully.
For a moment the room was quiet except for the soft rustling of fabric. Lucas watched her fingers move.
"Bella," he said after a moment.
"Hm?" she replied absently, tightening the knot slightly.
"I need to tell you something."
Bella kept working on the tie. "What?"
Lucas hesitated for a second before speaking.
"I'm leaving tomorrow for a business meeting in Germany."
Her hands stopped instantly. The tie hung half-finished between them. Bella slowly looked up at him. His face was calm, but there was something in his eyes.... something quieter, heavier.
"Tomorrow?"
Lucas nodded once. "Friday morning."
Bella frowned slightly. "You are leaving tomorrow.... And you are telling me just now?"
There wasn't accusation in her voice, just mild confusion. Lucas exhaled quietly. "I tried to tell you last night."
Bella blinked.
"Oh."
She stared at him for a moment before shaking her head lightly.
"That's fine."
Her hands moved again, finishing the knot neatly.
"It's just a business trip, right?"
"Yes."
"For how long?"
Lucas watched her carefully, reading her expressions. "A week."
Bella paused, just for a brief second, before smoothing the front of his tie as if nothing had happened.
"That'll be alright. If you had told me earlier, I would have helped you pack."
Her voice was calm.
"Also you won't be able to make it to Rachel's sports day. She might be a little sad when she hears about it."
Lucas studied her face.
"You're not?"
Bella gave a small shrug, but her fingers lingered on the tie a second longer than necessary. "Why would I be sad? You travel for work not to party."
It was a simple answer. One she chose to believe at that moment. She stepped back slightly and examined the tie.
"There," she said. "Fixed. Now Mr. CEO is all ready for office."
Lucas didn't move immediately. His gaze followed the small distance she had created.
"Bella,"
Before he could continue, Rachel's voice called from the hallway. "Dada! We're going to be late!"
Bella smiled faintly. "You should go. We'll talk about this when you get home."
Lucas nodded slowly and grabbed his coat. Rachel appeared at the door a second later, already wearing her backpack.
"Bye, Mama!" she said kissing her quickly before running toward Lucas.
Bella walked with them to the door. Lucas slipped on his shoes while Rachel waited impatiently.
"Ready?" he asked her.
Rachel nodded enthusiastically. Lucas looked at Bella once more before leaving.
"See you later."
"See you. Be careful on the road," Bella replied.
The door closed behind them. For a while Bella just stood there. The apartment suddenly felt very quiet. She walked back into the living room and sat on the couch.
A week. The words replayed in her mind slowly. At first it hadn't seemed like much. Although Lucas liked staying home, he still left for work every day.
He left in the morning and returned at night. It had become routine. Normal. But now… his absence didn't feel right.
Bella leaned back against the couch. She realized something then that made her frown slightly. She had gotten used to him. More than she had realised.
The way he asked if she had eaten. The way he reminded her to wear something warm. The way he checked on Rachel's homework every evening. The way he cooks when he notices she is not well. She had gotten used to all of this.
The apartment had quietly adjusted itself around his presence. And now he would be gone for seven days. Bella sighed softly and stood up.
"Stop thinking and overthinking," she murmured to herself.
She still had chores to do. But she knew she couldn't concentrate like that. So she sat on the couch and opened her sketchbook. The pencil moved across the page slowly.
Then she stopped. Something about the design looked wrong. She erased it and tried again. Another sketch. Another pause.
She tapped the pencil against the paper, frowning. Her mind kept drifting back to the same thought. Lucas wouldn't be coming home tomorrow. Or the day after. She leaned back in the chair and rubbed her temple lightly.
"Really! Now I can't even concentrate on the thing that I like the most. Why am I thinking about this so much?" she muttered.
She tried working again. Another design. Another failure. Nothing seemed to come out right. The entire morning slipped by like that.
By noon Bella finally closed the sketchbook with a frustrated sigh.
"Great," she muttered. "Completely unproductive. No inspiration. No progress."
She rested her chin on her hand, staring absently at the empty page. She eventually pushed the chair back and stood up. Sitting there clearly wasn't helping. She made lunch and sat on the couch again.
"Maybe some fresh air," she murmured to herself.
She grabbed a light scarf from the couch and stepped out of the apartment.
The slightly chilly air greeted her immediately, cool and crisp. The sky was pale and the sunlight soft, the kind that barely carried warmth.
Bella wrapped the scarf more securely around her neck as she walked toward the nearby park.
It was quieter than the evening before. A few people were walking along the paths. An elderly couple sat on a bench feeding birds, while a young father chased a small child near the swings.
Bella slowed slightly as she passed the same bench where she had sat the previous evening. She could almost see Rachel running across the path again.
"I WON!" she had shouted proudly.
Bella smiled faintly at the memory. Lucas had pretended to lose. Of course he had. She sat down on the bench and leaned back slightly, letting the cool breeze brush against her face.
For a few minutes she simply watched the people around her. A little boy ran toward his mother, laughing loudly when she caught him.
Bella's gaze lingered on them for a moment longer than she intended. Yesterday Lucas had been running across this same path with Rachel. Today he was at work. And tomorrow he would leave.
She found herself thinking, What if Rachel cries because of this? She's getting more attached to him anyway.
She checked the time and sighed softly.
It was almost time to pick Rachel up.
"Alright," she murmured. "Enough thinking."
When the school bell rang, Rachel rushed out of the gate with the same energy she always had. She spotted Bella immediately.
"Mama!"
Bella smiled and opened her arms as Rachel ran toward her. Rachel hugged her tightly before looking around. "Where's Dada?"
Bella brushed a loose strand of hair from Rachel's forehead. "He had work today, remember? I told him I was already going to the park, so I came to pick you up."
Rachel nodded thoughtfully. "Okay."
Bella wrapped the scarf she was wearing on Rachel's neck since she was more prone to catching a cold. They started walking home together. Rachel swung her backpack slightly as they walked. "Dada told me something this morning."
Bella glanced at her. "What?"
"He said he's going somewhere for work."
Bella nodded. "Yes. A business trip."
"For how long?"
"A week."
Rachel's steps slowed a little.
"That's long. Then he won't be here for sports day."
Bella smiled gently. "He'll come back before you know it."
Rachel thought about that for a moment before nodding again. "He better come before sports day."
Bella chuckled softly. "We'll remind him."
By the time they reached the apartment, Rachel had already started talking about her race again.
"I'm going to win the relay too."
"That's two victories then?" Bella said as she walked into the kitchen.
"Yep," Rachel nodded confidently.
Bella laughed while taking out plates. They ate lunch together at the dining table while Rachel continued explaining her race strategies in great detail.
Halfway through the meal, Bella's phone buzzed.
She glanced at the screen. Lucas. Rachel immediately leaned closer. "Is it Dada?"
Bella answered the call and placed the phone on speaker. "Hello?"
Lucas's voice came through clearly. "Did you eat?"
Bella raised an eyebrow slightly. "Hello to you too."
"Hello Bella," he replied calmly. "Now answer the question."
Rachel giggled.
"Yes," Bella said. "We're eating right now."
Lucas paused briefly. "Good."
Rachel leaned closer to the phone. "Dada!"
Lucas's tone softened slightly. "Hello, champion."
"I practiced at school!"
"Really?"
"I'm going to win."
"I expect nothing less."
Rachel grinned proudly. Bella shook her head lightly and continued eating.
Lucas spoke again after a moment. "You went to the park?"
Bella glanced at Rachel before answering. "Yes."
"And?"
"And what?"
"Did you sit in the cold the whole time?"
There it was, his usual protectiveness. Bella rolled her eyes. "It wasn't that cold."
Lucas didn't sound convinced.
"Wear something more warm next time."
Rachel nodded seriously as if agreeing with him. Bella sighed. "I'm surrounded."
Lucas sounded faintly amused. "Clearly."
For a moment there was a comfortable silence between them. Then Lucas spoke again. "I'll be late today. I have a lot of work to finish."
Bella nodded even though he couldn't see her. "Alright."
Rachel waved at the phone anyway. "Bye Dada!"
"Bye, Rachel."
The call ended. Bella placed the phone back on the table. Rachel looked at her thoughtfully. "He's going to miss dinner."
Bella nodded slightly. "Yes."
Rachel shrugged and returned to her food. But Bella found herself glancing at the phone once more before continuing her lunch.
____________
By the time Lucas returned to the apartment, the hallway was completely quiet. It was late. Later than he had intended. He unlocked the door as quietly as possible and stepped inside. The living room lights were off.
For a moment he thought Bella and Rachel might still be awake to see his surprise, but the apartment remained silent. Good. Early sleep is good for both of them.
Lucas loosened his tie slightly and walked toward the kitchen. He gently placed the small box he was holding carefully on the counter. A cake.
He had bought it on the way back without really thinking about it. Rachel had been talking about dessert that morning, and the thought had stayed with him. He still remembered how her face had puffed up the moment he had said he would be leaving for a few days.
Lucas opened the refrigerator and placed the cake inside. As he closed the door, something else caught his attention. A plate sat on the counter.
Covered carefully with wrap. Lucas stopped. He walked closer and lifted the wrap slightly. Dinner.
Still warm enough to smell the spices faintly. Beside the plate was a small folded piece of paper. Lucas opened it.
The handwriting was unmistakably Bella's. Eat before you sleep.
Lucas stared at the note for a moment longer than necessary. Then he pulled out the chair and sat down.
The apartment felt unusually quiet. Too quiet. He began eating slowly. Normally dinner was noisy. Rachel talking about school or cartoons. Bella occasionally scolding her for speaking with a full mouth.
Lucas answering questions about things that made absolutely no sense. Tonight there was none of that. Just the quiet clink of a fork against the plate. Lucas exhaled slowly.
He didn't like it. He didn't like the silence. He preferred this.... his quiet, chaotic life with them.
He didn't like the way Rachel had looked at him that morning when he told her he would be leaving.
"That's long."
Lucas rubbed the back of his neck. He didn't like leaving. Not anymore.
He finished the food anyway, even though the apartment still felt strangely empty.
After placing the plate in the sink, Lucas turned off the kitchen light and walked toward Rachel's bedroom. After making sure pillows were placed to keep her from rolling off, he went to his bedroom. The room was dim.
Bella was already asleep. She lay on her side, one arm resting lightly near the pillow. Lucas changed quietly before slipping under the blanket.
For a moment he simply lay there, staring at the ceiling. The day had been long. He needed to complete all of his work for the next week today. But the thought of leaving tomorrow morning refused to settle. He would come back as soon as his work is finished.
After a moment he turned toward Bella. Without thinking too much about it, he moved closer and wrapped an arm around her waist.
Bella shifted slightly in her sleep but didn't wake. Lucas rested his head against her shoulder. The warmth of her presence made something in his chest loosen.
For the first time since he returned home, the silence didn't feel so empty. A few minutes passed before Bella stirred slightly. Her eyes opened slowly.
"Lucas?"
Her voice was soft with sleep. Lucas lifted his head slightly. "Hm."
"When did you come back?"
"A little while ago."
Bella turned slightly to face him. Even in the dim light she noticed something different. Lucas's voice didn't carry its usual confidence. Or the teasing mischief he almost always had. It sounded… quieter. Heavier.
"Did you eat?" she asked gently.
"Yes."
Bella studied his face for a moment before lifting her hand and brushing her fingers lightly through his hair.
Then, without overthinking it, she leaned forward and pressed a small kiss to his forehead. Lucas froze slightly at the unexpected gesture. He had done this many times.... but receiving it felt different. Better.
Bella pulled him closer afterward, one arm wrapping loosely around his shoulders. His head rested naturally against her chest.
She began patting his back slowly, almost absentmindedly. The same way she sometimes comforted Rachel. Lucas didn't move. For once, he didn't tease her about it. He just stayed there quietly.
"I don't want to leave," he whispered. "A week feels… longer than it should."
Bella murmured softly, her voice still half asleep. "It's only a week."
Lucas didn't answer immediately. After a moment he exhaled quietly.
"Still."
Bella continued patting his back gently.
"Sleep," she said softly.
Lucas finally closed his eyes. For the first time since morning, the tightness in his chest eased.