Summer never has visitors. She scrambles out of her chair and pulls the door open, blinking up at Toni. “Toni?” Immediately she can tell something’s wrong. “What is it? Come in, come in.” She gestures him in, shuts the door. “What’s going on?”
“Shhh,” she murmurs, kissing his hair. “I’m here. It’s okay. You don’t need to do anything, just be here with me. Let it go.” She rocks a little, and barely brushes him with her empathy, easing away the worst of the ache bit by bit.
Looking up after most of the silent tears were gone, he leans forward, carefully placing a warm kiss on her lips, moving to cup the back of her head. “Thank you.”
Summer draws back just a little and smiles. “Of course, Toni.” Her eyes flick down, then back up to his. “I love you.” She pulls him close again.