Chapter 3

Charles had crossed a boundary he knew he could never undo. Excuses tangled around truth in his mind as Elsie watched and waited for his response to her question. He couldn't lie to her, he never could, but in that moment, when the amount of dignity he would have afterward was questionable, he toyed with the wish that he could go back and, quite frankly, have kept his mouth shut.

He shrugged, deciding to share the easiest bit of information first.

"I wanted to spend some time with you."

Elsie watched his face intently as if waiting for more. For a moment, she wondered if that were truly all there was to it. After all, the man didn't really need a reason more. Still, there was a certain flash in his eyes that led her to believe there was something he wasn't saying.

"And?" she pressed on.

Charles chuckled softly.

"And I enjoy spending time with you."

Elsie inhaled deeply and held the breath for a moment as she considered this. She could have argued that his two statements held little difference, but she knew Charles, and she knew that, in time, he would share what was on his mind. He had a way of always showing her rather than telling her, and that was one of her favorite things about him.

Elsie's attention drifted to their hands, only a finger's reach away, resting on the table, and this distance somehow now unnerved her more than when his hand had actually been fully covering hers. She waited for him to make his move. When Charles lifted his eyes to meet hers, his sad, almost apologetic expression left her knowing exactly where they stood in that moment. Reluctantly, Elsie slipped her hand from the table and back to her lap.

"I think it's time for me to go," Charles spoke in a low voice.

The unmasked look of sadness on her face made him want to forget propriety and pull her fully into his arms, but he could not imagine her accepting his advances. They stood together, neither speaking a word. Elsie deliberately held back, keeping a solid distance of more than seemed normal and comfortable between the two of them.

"Goodnight, Mrs. Hughes," he said in all but a whisper.

"Goodnight," she replied quietly, struggling to find her voice.

She generally would have walked with him, at least to the door, but tonight she stood rooted in her spot, as if she were afraid the world would crumble with just one step. Once Charles had shut the door behind him, Elsie whispered aloud the same small words she did whenever she was certain he was just out of reach.

"I love you."

To be continued