I Tried To Keep My House Secret — Marriage Took A Wild Turn

Wine Poured, Grill Heating Up

Mark uncorked a bottle of wine and began grilling the chicken on the patio, the sizzle punctuating the soft music playing in the background.
She inquired about neighborhood noise after dark and asked if parking was ever a problem. Mark cracked a humorous story about minor disputes with a neighbor over the lawn and offered me a bite from the fork, drawing a small laugh. We settled into the patio chairs, enjoying the shifting colors of the sky as it turned copper and the streetlights blinked on one by one, marking the transition from day to evening.
Donna observed him with keen interest, noting the practiced way he flipped the meat and handled the tongs. I brought out a large platter of vegetables and positioned it beside the grill for easy access.