"Sorry," she managed softly, though sincerely. Cathy knew where her best protection was when it came to things though. She was slowly growing out of the general notion that doing something bad was going to end up getting slapped. Not that she really thought the man was going to really do anything to her, but a small part of her still instinctively flinched away if anyone's hands got too close to her face too fast. Mal had never asked what happened when she ended up back with her parents, and a fair amount of him was sure he didn't want to know. Otherwise there would be the strong possibility of taking a trip when he managed to go up another level, making it all the easier to hide a couple of bodies. It was all for the best that he just stay in the dark. She never had to go back there and that was all that really mattered.
Mal just nodded a bit. "Just a fair walk between here and home, so the umbrella was a bit of a must." God, could one person sound any more awkward? Well... Likely. He wasn't sure what to do though with the idea that he take control over the umbrella. For one it would mean taking away the responsibility of it from the little one when she was enjoying it and trying to keep her close enough that they both would remain relatively dry. It was one of those times it might have been better to own a few ponchos instead. Or somewhere it was likely that she had a raincoat that could be put on along with the matching galoshes.
He sighed a bit though and reached back before having the umbrella placed in his hand, still trying to keep it at the same angle it had been without accidentally poking someone's eye next. "Hopefully most people are staying inside with this weather. And in general with night setting in. Which reminds me that we probably shouldn't keep you as you were headed somewhere. Especially standing in the rain."