There, set up neatly on the front porch, was a brand-new set of outdoor furniture—two rustic wooden chairs with deep cushions and a small table between them. The kind of furniture that would’ve looked perfect in a catalog but now felt glaringly out of place. Her heart thudded in her chest.
She dropped her bag on the ground, her hands going to her hips as she stared at the chairs. It didn’t take long to put the pieces together.
Jake.
Just as she was about to storm inside, the screen door swung open, and there he was, wiping his hands on a rag like he had no idea the world was about to explode. He glanced at the furniture, then at her, his easy smile in place. “Hey, you’re back earlier than I thought. I finished up some work inside and figured I’d surprise you.”
Capri felt her irritation bubbling up, her hands clenching into fists. “Surprise me? With this?” She gestured to the furniture like it was something offensive. “Jake, what were you thinking?”
His smile faded, replaced with confusion. “What do you mean? You said you wanted something cozy for the porch. I found this set at a good price, thought it fit the space. Just trying to help.”
Her pulse quickened. Help. That word, so innocent, sent her spiraling. She had asked for cozy, yes, but this wasn’t about the chairs. It was about control—about decisions being made without her.
“You should have asked me first,” she snapped, crossing her arms over her chest. “This is my house, Jake. Every decision, big or small, needs to go through me. I thought we were clear on that.”
Jake frowned, stepping toward her but keeping his distance. “I didn’t think it was that big of a deal. You’ve got a million things going on—I figured this would be one less thing to worry about.”
“That’s not the point!” Capri’s voice rose, frustration pushing her words out faster than she could control them. “You can’t just go around making decisions for me. I need to be involved in every detail. I need to know what’s happening, what’s being bought, what’s being changed.”
Jake’s face softened, though his eyes held a flicker of frustration. “Capri, I’m not trying to take control of anything. I’m just trying to make things easier for you. This was supposed to be a gesture, not a problem.”
But it was a problem. Everything felt like a problem when she wasn’t in control. “You don’t get it,” she muttered, shaking her head. “If I don’t stay on top of things, they fall apart. That’s just how it is.”
Jake took a deep breath, his voice calm but firm. “I get that you like to have things done your way, but Capri, sometimes people can help without it being a bad thing. This isn’t about taking control from you. It’s about making things better—for you.”
Capri stared at him, her heartbeat loud in her ears. She knew, deep down, that he was right. That he wasn’t trying to undermine her. But she couldn’t let go of the gnawing fear that if she stopped paying attention to every detail, something would slip away, unraveling everything she’d worked so hard to hold together.
Her voice wavered. “You don’t understand. I can’t just… let things go. It doesn’t work like that.”
Then it started.
Her heart raced uncontrollably, thudding against her ribcage like it was trying to escape. Cold sweat trickled down her spine, and a terrifying sense of doom gripped her, overwhelming her thoughts with a flood of fear she couldn’t name or control. She reached for Jake, gasping, trying to ground herself in a reality that was slipping away.
Concern immediately sprouted on his face. “Capri? Are you alright?”
He led her to one of the new chairs and gently pushed her to sit. “You look like you’re going to faint.” He squatted beside her, took her hands in his, and squeezed. “Take a deep breath.”
She did as she was told, fought to gain control by squeezing her eyes tightly shut.
Breathe in…breathe out.
What seemed like an eternity passed before her heart quit racing. Trembling, she wiped the sheen of sweat from her forehead and swallowed.
Jake stood. “Stay here. I’m getting you a glass of water.”
He headed inside and was back in seconds, thrusting the glass to her lips. “Take a drink.”
She placed her hand on his, thankful for his care and concern. She took a sip, then a longer one. “Thanks, I’m okay now,” she told him, hoping that was true.
They sat in silence for several minutes. He let go of one of her hands and rubbed her arm with little circles. Letting down her defenses, she let herself lean into him. He felt…safe.
Finally, he broke the silence. “Do you do that often?” he asked, brushing a damp strand of her hair off her face.
“What?” she asked weakly.
“The panic thing.”
Filled with shame, she quietly shook her head. “No. Just a couple of times. It only happens when…” She let her words drift.
