At the sound of Padma's voice, Faelan's gaze jerked up from the paper. He looked up to see her crossing the lawn wearing a big smile, picnic basket in hand.
For a moment, he was struck silent, torn between being surprised at seeing her, touched at the idea that she'd gone to this trouble, and wary, the nameless annoyance he'd been feeling surging up like a wall in front of him.
"Hi," he finally said, hesitant. He didn't rise, just looked up at her as she stood over him. His instinct was to pull her down beside him, to take her in his arms and hug her, but he couldn't. It was too hard knowing that things between them were changed. He wondered what she was thinking. Regardless, he had to speak the truth. "You look beautiful. You didn't have to do this."