didn’t want to add to her already jittery state. Her right heel kept tapping the
 
 floor under the table and she couldn’t make her leg stop vibrating to get it to
 
 cease.
 
 Taylor had a latte, as Christina suggested. It was pumpkin spice, in spirit
 
 with the impending Thanksgiving season.
 
 “I was wondering where you were. I was going to call or email, but I
 
 thought I’d check in at the office, since there might have been an
 
 emergency. I called the receptionist to see if you were in. She didn’t think
 
 you had any appointments booked, so I just dropped by.”
 
 “To talk.”
 
 “Yes! Because you’re avoiding me, aren’t you?”
 
 “No. I did have some work to catch up on.”
 
 “I don’t think so. You said that your boss cleared your schedule and told
 
 you to be working with me every day for the next little while.”
 
 “I…”
 
 “You were just trying to figure out how not to make things awkward.
 
 You panicked.” Christina felt a lot like panicking at the moment. “I know
 
 how you feel. I woke up this morning and thought I’d made the worst
 
 mistake. But then Chloe woke up and she smiled at me. She was so happy. I
 
 calmed right down. I really did leave early so that we wouldn’t disturb you.
 
 Chloe was also begging me for something to eat and I didn’t want to go
 
 rummaging through your cupboards and fridge.”
 
 It was just as Christina thought. Taylor hadn’t been trying to just make a
 
 break for it.
 
 “I would have stayed if we’d woken up a little later and at least said
 
 goodbye properly. I knew that we had to be at work though. My dog
 
 definitely needed to be walked, Chloe needed a bath and a bag packed to go
 
 to Juliana and Adriana’s. There was lots for me to do. Sorry. I left a note
 
 because I thought it would be reassuring. I didn’t want you to think that I
 
 was— that I had regrets about last night.”