Grace was thankful he broke the eye contact first.
Her mind was not built to handle such scattered thoughts. She ought to say something. Maybe an encouraging go on to Ellie, or even a I'll come with you, leave Mr. Echelon-Arnost be (which might have worked had her brain not stumbled at the thought of speaking his name out loud). Instead she stared down at the three pairs of shoes side by side, trying to un-warm her cheeks and find her voice.
Only it was Mr. Echelon-Arnost who spoke first, good-humored and light. Her gaze rose to him again, pleased to find that he was no longer looking in her direction. Her stomach still felt tight and she was nearly certain her she'd knicked off the tip of one of her fingernails from fidgeting with them, but she managed to stand up a little taller. At least for a moment.
"You needn't bother," she said, her voice not nearly as confident as she'd hoped to project, "I can—well, it is my job to handle children. You don't—you are his father, I suppose, but you don't have to, is what I mean." Wellllll.
Her mind was not built to handle such scattered thoughts. She ought to say something. Maybe an encouraging go on to Ellie, or even a I'll come with you, leave Mr. Echelon-Arnost be (which might have worked had her brain not stumbled at the thought of speaking his name out loud). Instead she stared down at the three pairs of shoes side by side, trying to un-warm her cheeks and find her voice.
Only it was Mr. Echelon-Arnost who spoke first, good-humored and light. Her gaze rose to him again, pleased to find that he was no longer looking in her direction. Her stomach still felt tight and she was nearly certain her she'd knicked off the tip of one of her fingernails from fidgeting with them, but she managed to stand up a little taller. At least for a moment.
"You needn't bother," she said, her voice not nearly as confident as she'd hoped to project, "I can—well, it is my job to handle children. You don't—you are his father, I suppose, but you don't have to, is what I mean." Wellllll.
