Three weeks later, Grace was reading quarterly reports at their dining table when Max returned home from work with takeaway from their favorite Thai restaurant and the delighted grin that indicated his day had gone especially well.
"Good timing," she murmured, closing her laptop and preparing for dinner. "I just finished the grant compliance review, and my brain needs a break from budget reconciliation."
"Perfect. I bought pad thai and your favorite green curry, and I have good news to share."
"Good news?"
Very good news. The environmental impact research I've been working on for six months has just been accepted for publication in the Journal of Environmental Policy. "First-author publication in a leading journal."
Grace felt a wave of real excitement over Max's professional accompli
