Ethan Cole had been away for nine days.
It was supposed to be only five.
His parents lived three states away in Tennessee, and what began as a simple visit had turned into several extra days helping his father repair storm damage around the house.
By the ninth morning, Ethan was ready to go home.
More specifically, he was ready to see Hannah.
They had been living together for almost two years in a comfortable suburban house outside Charlotte, North Carolina. Ethan was thirty, Hannah was twenty-eight, and after four years together, most of their friends had stopped asking when they would get married and simply assumed it would happen eventually.
Ethan assumed the same thing.
He already had the ring.
It was hidden inside a small lockbox at his office.
He planned to propose in December.
During the drive home, Hannah called twice.
The second time, she sounded sleepy.
“When are you coming back tomorrow?”
Ethan smiled.
“Probably around lunch.”
“I hate sleeping here alone.”
“One more night.”
“You better make it up to me.”
“I will.”
He almost told her the truth.
He was already less than two hours away.
Ethan wanted to surprise her.
He imagined opening the front door, calling her name, and watching her run toward him.
That was almost exactly what happened.
Almost.
It was nearly ten-thirty at night when Ethan turned onto their street.
Most of the houses were dark.
He parked quietly in the driveway and noticed Hannah’s car sitting exactly where he expected.
The living-room lights were on.
Perfect.
He grabbed his overnight bag and walked toward the front door.
He did not knock.
It was his house too.
The lock clicked.
“Han?”
For half a second, the house remained silent.
Then Hannah appeared from the hallway.
Her face immediately lit up.
“Ethan?”
She wore a black satin nightdress beneath a thin robe, her blonde hair falling loosely over her shoulders.
“You’re home!”
She rushed toward him.
Ethan barely had time to drop his bag before she wrapped both arms around his neck.
He laughed and pulled her close.
“I thought you weren’t coming until tomorrow!”
“Surprise.”
Hannah kissed him.
“I missed you so much.”
Ethan smiled against her hair.
“I missed you too.”
And for perhaps three seconds, his surprise went exactly as planned.
Then Ethan saw movement.
Not Hannah.
Behind her.
At the far end of the living room, near the hallway.