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 shown up.
"Laura, where's my birthday present? And what kind of behavior is this? You disappeared for the entire day. Do you have any idea how unhappy everyone in the family has been?" Julian's eyes were dark with irritation.
I pushed back my sleep-mussed hair, only then remembering that it seemed to be Julian's birthday.
"Oh, sorry. I forgot." After a brief pause, I added casually, "I'll have my assistant pick something out tomorrow and send it over."
For a moment, he simply stared at me, as if he could not believe what he had just heard. "What did you just say?"