She nodded -- yes, it was true -- he had written that, but then, the whole thing just seemed so surreal at times, like she needed to pinch herself, or some such thing, to make sure this was really happening. And then, he said those four words. She nearly blurted out I've missed you, too! and would have, too, had it not been for his recovery. She had this insatiable urge to hug him tightly, and pat his head and tell him that everything was going to be okay. She paused, visibly, at his last words, his attempt to move past the slip up.
"I can understand that. I've been the same way with gardening," she said, "always felt at home amongst the flowers." She sipped her tea again. "But I know what you mean about the other," she added, a seeming afterthought, with only slight emphasis. "I feel that I've missed you, a seemingly ludicrous thought since we've just met, is it not?" she asked, a brow only slightly raised.