We ended up on the couch in the sitting room, his flowers in a vase of water, his arm around my shoulders with the gentlest of pressure, cheek against my hair as I let myself lean into him and did my best not to cry all over his soft cotton shirt. His free hand held one of mine in his lap, the one around me softly stroking my upper arm as he just held me and let me shiver while he supported me without saying a word.

When I finally leaned away I could smile for real, much ...