Lena had always known food was her love language. Her husband, Aaron, adored apple pie, and every time she baked one, his face lit up like a child’s on a holiday morning. So for his birthday, she spent hours perfecting a pie, brushing the crust until it shone and writing a simple message on top: “To my lovely hubby.”
That evening, their house filled with friends and laughter. When Lena brought out the pie, everyone clapped. But as Aaron’s friends leaned in to read the message, a few chuckled. Aaron smirked and joked, “Guess I’m officially the spoiled one at home.” The room erupted in laughter.
Lena forced a smile, but her cheeks burned. What she meant as something private and loving had turned into a joke she hadn’t agreed to share. When the guests left and the dishes were done, she sat quietly at the kitchen table, staring at the last slice of pie.
Aaron noticed her silence. When she finally spoke, her voice was soft. “I wanted that pie to make you feel loved. But when everyone laughed, it felt like my feelings were on display.”
His expression shifted. He took her hand, realizing he hadn’t thought about how his reaction had hurt her.
The next morning, Lena found Aaron in the kitchen, struggling to bake an apple pie himself. The crust was uneven, the filling messy. On top, written in shaky icing, were the words: “To my lovely wife.”
“I never want your love to feel small or silly,” he said. “I’m sorry. This is my way of saying I see you.”
Lena laughed through her tears. The pie was imperfect, but sweet. And so was the moment.
