On Valentine’s Day, a man yelled at his wife for being a poor homemaker and threw away her gift—only to regret everything when a stranger appeared at his door later that day.
Grace Turner had started her Valentine’s Day filled with quiet joy. Sitting in the living room, she blushed while going over her evening plans, excited to surprise her husband, Owen.
They’d met at a work conference in Texas. Both raised in foster care, both longing for the kind of big, warm family they never had. After only a few dates, they married. Two years later, they welcomed triplets.
Grace had left her job to raise the kids, while Owen became the sole breadwinner. The pressure of supporting a family of five weighed heavily on him. He barely slept on weekends, constantly worried about money, and the guilt of not being present for his children quietly gnawed at him.
They hadn’t been on a vacation or dined out in years—not even for special occasions. Grace understood Owen’s desire to save every penny, so she was always careful with money.
That night, she wore a faded red dress Owen had given her on their first anniversary. It wasn’t new, but it carried meaning. She prepared his favorite red velvet cheesecake, carefully shaped like a heart, cooked a simple pasta dish, poured wine, and even lit candles and fairy lights to make the evening feel special.
When Owen arrived, she greeted him with a kiss. “Happy Valentine’s Day, honey!” she smiled, taking his hand and guiding him inside.
Owen paused in the doorway, looking at the decorated table, the soft glow of candles, and rose petals lining the floor. But instead of smiling, his expression darkened.
“Grace, what is all this? Are we teenagers?” he snapped, flipping on the overhead lights, shattering the mood.
Grace’s smile faded. “Is something wrong, Owen? Did something happen at work?”
His frustration exploded. “Are you kidding me? I work my tail off, and this is what you do with our money? On this nonsense?”
Grace tried to stay calm. “Please, it wasn’t expensive. I just wanted to make you smile.”
But Owen was livid. He took one bite of the pasta and spat it out. “What is this? Why does it taste like this?”
His shouting woke the triplets.
“Owen, please! I just got them to sleep,” Grace pleaded.
“Oh, so that’s my fault too now?” he fired back. “All day I work while you play house with the kids—and you think this,” he picked up the gift box, “will impress me?” He threw it to the floor. “Have you even seen the kitchen? Piled with dirty dishes! Maybe if you weren’t playing decorator, you’d clean the house!”
“You’re impossible,” Grace whispered, hurt beyond words. “I don’t even recognize the man I married.”
She walked toward the nursery, then paused. “The babies need new diapers. We’re out. I’m going to the store. Watch them till I’m back.”
She grabbed her coat and slammed the door behind her.
Owen scoffed. “Homemaker, huh? What a joke.”
Nearly an hour passed, and Grace hadn’t returned. The babies were still crying. Frustrated, Owen grabbed his phone to call her.
The doorbell rang.
“Finally!” he muttered, storming toward the door. But it wasn’t Grace.
A police officer stood on the porch.
“Are you Owen Turner?”
“Yes?”
“And does Grace Turner live here?”
“She’s my wife. What’s going on?”
“I’m sorry to inform you… Your wife was involved in a fatal car accident earlier this evening. We found her license with this address. We need you to come identify her.”
Owen stood frozen, the color draining from his face. His legs nearly gave out. Behind the officer, the candlelit dinner table still flickered.
His voice cracked as he asked the neighbor, Mrs. Walker, to watch the kids. At the morgue, Owen collapsed when he saw Grace’s lifeless body. The weight of everything he’d said crashed down on him.
The next day, after the funeral, he returned home numb and silent. Then he remembered the gift he’d thrown on the floor.
He found the box and opened it with trembling hands. Inside were two plane tickets—and a letter.
To my love, Owen,
Happy Valentine’s Day, sweetheart! Guess who got a job this month? That’s right—me! I know how hard you’ve been working for all of us, and I wanted to do something to help. I applied for a few positions quietly, and yesterday I got hired!
Mrs. Walker has kindly agreed to help with the kids while I work.
And the tickets? We’re going to California! Just the two of us. You need a break, and I’ve planned everything. There’s more, but I’ll save it for later.
I love you, always.
—Grace
Owen dropped to the floor in tears.
She was trying to help him. Support him. Surprise him with something beautiful. And all he did was hurt her.
From that day on, Owen never loved again. He devoted his life to raising their children the best he could. Every Valentine’s Day, he visits Grace’s grave, brings red velvet cake, and whispers everything in his heart—still longing for one more chance to say, “I’m sorry.”