The Fifth Candle
The birthday gift I gave my husband was found in a doghouse by the side of the road. I spent the next five years as the butt of all jokes made by Cascade City's high society wives.
Every year when Julian Carter's birthday came around, they would bring it up again, teasing that the gift I bought him was surely the most expensive one of all.
"That's nouveau riche taste for you. She thinks the more expensive it is, the better."
"Yeah, but I wonder where they'll find it this year. Another doghouse, maybe?"
The women burst into laughter. Then, they realized something was different. This year, I had not given Julian anything at all. In fact, as his birthday drew to a close, I still had not sho