Their early married life unfolded gently. Walter built raised herb beds while Marie chose paint colors that brightened every corner of the house. Weekends smelled of rosemary and sawdust. They adopted a rescue dog, Jasper, who followed them everywhere, tail thumping happily against cabinet doors.
Those first months wore an easy rhythm—long walks, shared dinners, plans whispered late at night about children and future renovations. The house became theirs in layers: scraped wallpaper, new curtains, and scuffed floors from the dog learning how to chase toys without wiping out.