Zach lifted one shoulder to answer Jo's unfinished question. It wasn't too difficult to connect the dots, especially after her comment around Christmas. It was inevitable that she would leave again, but he had never imagined it would be done in such a secretive manner.

Looking back to Jo, he found his gaze sliding away once more. He couldn't look at her wet eyes, or he might say something to make her even more upset. Beg her not to leave. After all, she was leaving because of him, wasn't she?

"You will be missed," he commented, unable to reign the words in before they toppled out. Clearing his throat, he attempted to divert his disappointment to a query. "Research?" Or was she simply running away. Zach wasn't sure he wanted to know the answer.