Walls were hard to tear down. Some more than others. She'd wanted to talk to John about things, talk through things, but maybe she was just cowering out. The box on his knee seemed an easy redirect- a self-preservation maneuver because she was scared of going on. Of letting things go. And maybe of being rejected.
Carol never did handle rejection well. For most things would fight through it until she go what she wanted. But with family- with feelings, it was different. She ran away. Back behind the wall.
"Sealed yourself away?" She raised an eyebrow at that then smirked a little. "Please tell me that's a metaphor." She had a feeling it might not be.