This story is hilarious.I congratulate you for incorporating so many of the prompt lines. It's a challenge you accepted and bested. That poor husband couldn't say anything at first to banish his wife's funk. She seemed immune to humour. The chili explosion broke the stalemate. One can only laugh at the unintended mess. Your dialogue is spot on and believable. Tension is like that. It blows in, rumbles, and then dissipates. Even the fact Ray almost smothered Laura attempting to protect her is hysterical. Thanks for the laughs and for sharing this tale.