With a tilted head, copper waves falling to the side, Marian watched her friend carefully. Will wasn't a man who should be pushed before he was ready. Will, Marian had always thought, was more delicate than he appeared with that strong exterior.
But couldn't that be said of them all? Blustering and raging and swearing and fighting, covering up any fear or uncertainty with it. Her boys. Her sweet and wonderful boys, too good and too loving, with their hearts so easy to damage.
Marian didn't want to be the cause of any of those bruises. She'd already left too many marks with her actions.
Instead she moved towards Will and hugged him again, one hand on his back and the other on the nape of his neck. "But you're back now," she promised him firmly, a tone that allowed no argument. Back where he belonged, with all of them.
When she finally drew back from the hug (after kissing his cheek), Marian added: "And if you ever do want to tal about the away times, then I'll always listen. That I promise you."