Expressions of Regard

~Raina~

The boxes sat unopened on the low table near the window for most of dinner, a kind of silent centerpiece nobody seemed willing to address directly until the main course had been cleared and the wine had loosened something in the room.

It was Arthur, surprisingly, who brought it back up.

"So," he said, gesturing vaguely toward the boxes with his glass, "are we opening those tonight or savin