Peter held Mandy until she pulled away from him. The wind whipped across the grass, and he pulled his jacket tighter around him; he felt colder without her near him. She walked away, and Peter hesitated before following her. He thought he'd be able to tell if she wanted to be alone, and otherwise, he could sit in the silence, too, if that's what she needed.
He stood just off to the side of the bench where she sat. The clouds were scuttling across the sky, and he wondered if it might snow soon. He looked at her when she spoke. "You're not a mess," he said and looked away. You're heartbroken and disappointed. "You're never a mess, but you don't have to thank me. I wanted to be here...in case you needed someone..." To laugh madly with, to talk about Neville with, to cry on.