Ford had suggested the newly reopened Park with a small (but perhaps still foolish) degree of optimism. The closure of Padmore Park over the past months had been disruptive for him personally because it meant there was nowhere to go when the house felt overwhelming. During the summer he'd taken Jemima out into a row boat precisely once, and he'd been looking forward to doing it again, having something special and personal to share with her... and then December had happened.
The Park was open, but the lake was frozen over. Maybe this was a metaphor. Still, he'd asked if she wanted to walk down to the reopening, thinking that this small gesture — him asking, her agreeing — might mean something. He didn't have much to hold on to in the present moment; he had to read into hopes for the future where he could.
He was looking for the entrance to the botanical gardens, walking ahead with his hands in his pockets to fend off the cold, when he recognized one of his coworkers. "Miss Weasley," he said, polite but not warm. They were not friends; she was Clementine's age and he privately thought she was far too young to have given up on marriage and started working. "Are you here alone?"
Surely not. She might work, but surely she didn't go lounging in dark parks alone in the middle of winter? Surely someone cared how she comported herself, even if she didn't?
The Park was open, but the lake was frozen over. Maybe this was a metaphor. Still, he'd asked if she wanted to walk down to the reopening, thinking that this small gesture — him asking, her agreeing — might mean something. He didn't have much to hold on to in the present moment; he had to read into hopes for the future where he could.
He was looking for the entrance to the botanical gardens, walking ahead with his hands in his pockets to fend off the cold, when he recognized one of his coworkers. "Miss Weasley," he said, polite but not warm. They were not friends; she was Clementine's age and he privately thought she was far too young to have given up on marriage and started working. "Are you here alone?"
Surely not. She might work, but surely she didn't go lounging in dark parks alone in the middle of winter? Surely someone cared how she comported herself, even if she didn't?
Set by Lady!