For his part, Evan couldn't imagine what it must have been like for her, adjusting to having a daughter there, after so many years of being sure that she never would. It wasn't enough to make him regret anything, no, but it made him think that maybe he should have prepared her more for what was on the way. His reasoning had been that she'd have said no, maybe even broken up with him over it, and he wouldn't change the way he'd done things, but he felt guilty for thrusting so much responsibility on Leah, when she'd even thought that helping with leadership was too much for her. That was classic irresponsibility on his part.
And for that reason, he didn't blame her for the fact that she hadn't come to see him. So certain was he that she held some sort of resentment for him doing this without asking her, that he hadn't even expected her to visit him. Coupled with their argument, he wouldn't have been surprised if he never heard from her again, as much as it would've broken his heart.
“I can imagine,” he said, one side of his mouth quirking up into an awkward grin. “What have you guys been doing? Other than getting acclimated to one another, I mean...” he asked. Had they had any fun mother-daughter moments yet? He regretted missing them suddenly. She had most everything she wanted now, and this was the first time he was seeing them together. And Marigold was sleeping for it.
When she spoke again, he looked at her lovingly. “It doesn't surprise me. She's your daughter, after all.” And Leah was nothing if not a survivor. “She's got that Stone stubbornness working for her, hm?” Said with the utmost affection, so Leah wouldn't confuse how he meant it.
He took pause when she apologized in her roundabout way. He didn't expect an apology, nor did he think he particularly deserved one, so he listened quietly until she was finished, and then squeezed her hand lightly. “I'm not angry at you, cher,” he said, going into the nickname without thinking. “You were overwhelmed. People say things that they may not mean when they're overwhelmed.” He met her eyes again and smiled genuinely. “And it did seem kind of like I was pushing you, even if it wasn't what I meant. So, I understand.”
He shook his head and gave her a comforting look. Or, at least he hoped it was. “I was sleeping up until about twenty minutes ago. I wouldn't have been very good company.” And besides, “Marigold would have been bored, too.” And she was supposed to be Leah's top priority now.
“Partially,” he nodded in response to her observation. “I won't deny that stress of leadership had much to do with it.” He paused now, trying to think of the best way to explain himself. “But it had to do with not being able to turn to those I usually turned to, too. Danny's been distant, George is still too young, and Elliot was sort of preoccupied with Rae...” he didn't mention her name, because he still didn't blame her.