He had taken a morning walk from their house to downtown, where he stopped at a bakery to warm himself. It was colder than he'd expected. He ordered coffee he didn't want to warm his hands by holding the cup.

"Good morning," the woman behind the counter said. She looked at his face and said, "What's going on?"

"Nothing. Just a bit cold from my walk today."

"I see. Where's your better half?" She asked with a tiny note of accusation in her voice. Having worked at the bakery for quite a while, she knew they usually came in together.

"She was sleeping when I left," he said.

"She usually orders a blueberry scone. Do you want to take one home to her?"

He hesitated for a moment. Not looking at the woman behind the counter he said, "Sure."

The woman put his usual cherry turnover and the warm blueberry scone in separate bags.

"Here you go. Can I make a suggestion?"

"I don't see why not," he said, trying to smile.

"Tell her you're sorry."

He looked at the woman intently now. "You think that will help?"

"She's upset with you, right?"

"How do you know that?"

"The look on your face. You too are something. You are so close that even a minor incident throws you both for a mega-loop." She smiled, hoping to ease the tension on his face. "It's quite rare for you two to be cross with each other." She shrugged. "We all think you're the most loving and adorable couple in town."

He nodded as he paid for the pastry.

"I'll bet she's wondering where you are."

"She's sleeping."

"I doubt it," the woman said with a knowing laugh.

He walked home at a faster pace, wanting to get out of the cold. When he reached the front of their home, he saw her standing by the storm door. It reminded him of when she used to be standing there as he drove by before they were married. She always looked like a dazzling and elegant fashion model posing for a photo shoot. He realized now he missed that. He stood still for a while and looked her over. She had a tiny smile on her face.

He walked up their front steps and she opened the door to let him in. She looked at the bags. "Is one of those for me?"

They shut the door and hugged each other tightly. "Yes, for later," he said. "Right now I need you."
She led him back to their room. The bed was still warm.