Ryman stood frozen with his hands behind her neck, surprised by the force of her embrace and the expression on her face—part sorrow, part invitation.
Nardell moved in closer to Ryman’s side. “We appreciate your concern,” she said, emphasizing the plural. “We’ll let you know if we need help with something.”
Dorcas ignored Nardell and continued to gaze up at Ryman. “You’re still coming tomorrow, aren’t you? I mean, if you need time to be alone, we could reschedule. But the kids…”
“Oh, right,” Ryman said. “Tomorrow, the kids. A talk about proper turnout and etiquette.” He took the opportunity to lift his hands from around her neck and extricate himself from her embrace. He straightened his vest and jacket and said, “Yes, certainly, I’ll be there. Wouldn’t want to disappoint the kids. Well,
