La tragédie du sourire masqué

“Do you think he’ll like it, Sammy?” Naya asked, her voice almost a hum as she gently petted the sleek silver siamese cat lounging on the kitchen counter.

Sammy the cat blinked up at her, with his piercing blue eyes, then he hissed at her, and turned away. It's different.

Naya smiled to herself, glancing down at the half finished decorated cake sitting on the kitchen counter.

She’d stayed up all morning working on this cake for him. It was his favorite, a rich chocolate mousse layered with fresh raspberries and topped with a dusting of gold flakes. Naya sighed and went back to completing the cake.

When she was done, she stepped back and away, admiring her work. Years after leaving baking behind as a profession, and getting married, she was pleased to know that she’d never lost her touch.

Sammy meowed softly as if encouraging her work. Naya smiled harder. She was sure that Daniel, her husband, would love the cake. It was his birthday tonight and she wanted to make him feel special, since he’d been working a lot lately.

But that was not the only reason why she was doing this. Lately, Daniel has been cold to her, and every day it felt as if she was losing her husband. Everyday, he drifted even farther away from her. Maybe if she made this day special, things might change.

It was her duty after all. It was what she’d vowed to do. To love, to honor and cherish him no matter the cost.

“He’ll love it and everything will be alright.” She whispered to herself, wishing it to be true. It had to be.

“Are you done?” Chloe asked hurriedly, putting on her shoes and grabbing her bag from the couch in the living room. At the last minute, Naya had decided to bake the cake at her best friend’s so that Daniel would not catch a whiff beforehand.

She really wanted it to be special, and that meant leaving no stone unturned.

“Not yet. I think it still needs some finishing touches.” Naya bit her lip and turned to her friend. “Going out?”

Chloe fluffed out her hair and smiled at Naya. “Yes, I have to meet with my boss. There’s this fashion model that he wants me to convince to model our new releases.” Chloe sighed in exasperation. “I swear if I have to suck up to yet another entitled fashion model, I might think of quitting.”

Naya frowned. Since childhood, being a fashion designer has been Chloe’s dream. “Quit and then do what? Stay at home?” 

Chloe shrugged. “Or I might just get married to a rich man like you, and have him pay the bills.” She chuckled and then winked. “Or maybe a celebrity.”

Naya rolled her eyes at her best friend, but walked over to ehr and hugged her. “Chloe, you're not a quitter.”

Chloe smiled, and Naya smiled back, grateful for her best friend. They have been friends since middle school, and now, they are practically sisters. If there was anyone she could trust with her life, it was Chloe.

Chloe had reached the door when she glanced back and asked Naya, with a raised eyebrow. “How about Daniel? Any changes or is he still cold to you?”

Naya pressed her lips tightly, the smile disappearing from her face.The she nodded slowly. “I;m hoping this birthday changes everything. I want my husband back, Chloe.” She could feel her eyes misting over.

“Hasn’t this been going on for a year now, Naya? Why do you think surprising him now will change anything?” Chloe asked, her eyes turning into slits.

“It’s his birthday, and you know he’s always celebrated it with me. I don;t know Chloe, but I feel it deep in my bones that he’ll change. He loves me.” Naya added, even though it was more to convince herself than Chloe.

“Naya, don't get your hopes up. I don’t want you to get hurt. Besides, I keep telling you to get a divorce.”

Naya shook her head vigorously from side to side. “No. I’ll be left with nothing, back in the streets. I…I can’t. What will happen to the way I feel about him?” She pressed her lips together. Just the mere thought of leaving him, gave her a headache. “I…I can’t.”

Chloe sighed wearily and shook her head. “Naya, it’ll be fine. Daniel loves you. If he says it’s work, then it is work. You’re overthinking.”

Naya considered ehr words for a moment. “Maybe you’re right.” Then Naya shook her head and smiled at her friend. “Go on Chloe, don’t be late.”

Chloe nodded and hurried out of the house, while Naya went back to her cake.

Everything had to be perfect. 

Happy birthday, Daniel. I love you. She whispered to the empty house, imagining his smile when he walked in and saw everything she had prepared.

She also wondered if maybe she could seduce him tonight. She missed his touch, she'd missed him. He was always working, always busy.

She chuckled softly to herself as she thought of the new lingerie she'd ordered specially for that night, lying in a box in her wardrobe. 

For him.

He’d always loved her surprises and she prayed that this year would not be any different.

Except that was the thing about hope. It could be so easily shattered.