The door opens slowly before me; I hold my breath, tiptoeing onto the welcome mat I had purchased on one of my spontaneous shopping trips. It is clear my husband is stomping around in the kitchen from the thumps and sighs echoing through the house. Slipping off my shoes I make my way to him.

"Where have you been? You should have been home ten minutes ago. Now we'll never make those reservations" he snaps.

"Honey it's fine. I'm not very late, we can still make them. Just give me a little while to get dressed into something more suitable" I smile up at him.

He simply frowns at me. Hmmm, I don't think he likes that idea. His arms are crossed over his body in a somewhat uncertain manner. I can see him calculating in his head whether we are too far behind his schedule to continue with the evening. Realistically I don't need an entire hour to get ready. A simple yet pretty dress, a touch-up to my make up and I would be done. Twenty minutes maximum. Still leaving me with plenty of time to enjoy a glass of wine before we leave. I tell him so.

"No. God damn it! You always ruin my plans. All I wanted to do was treat you and apologise for the other day, but you won't allow me to do so!"

I watch as he storms out of the kitchen and up the stairs. Our bedroom door slams. Heaving a sigh, I twiddle my wedding band. It's a habit that annoys my husband so, but I cannot stop it. I don't like irritating him, but old habits die hard as they say. I know exactly what he is referring to. I shouldn't have angered him that night. If I hadn't things would not have got out of hand and he would not be hurt now with the mishap of his schedule. Dropping my hands to my side, I follow him.