Letting Go

When the steaks arrived, Declan cut Hazel's portion into pieces, but she pushed her plate away, too full. With a sigh, he turned and noticed me still sipping my wine. "Would you like me to cut yours?" he offered.

"I'm fine." I understood this was simply his upbringing showing—the reflexive good manners of a man trained from birth in proper etiquette, not actual care.

We ate without conversation, t