"You take a really long time to get ready."
"That's because we don't leave until seven."
The birds outside began to sing their afternoon rituals. Slowly, setting in the background,the sun beamed inside the house. The front room lit up in yellow and orange colors, bursting with beauty. Tilda, still grinning, looked out onto the wooded area. The view was beyond magnificent. Mountains stretched as far as the eye could see. Fluffy white clouds floated in the bluest sky she'd ever witnessed.
Kellan stood by her side. "We could ditch,"
"Malina's been planning this meeting for a long time. You know how much it means to her," she said without taking her eyes off the landscape. "Besides this is your first meeting since Torren, I think it'll be good for you,"
"What are you my shrink now?"
"No. Just someone who cares," her gaze found his. "Wasn't your wife a shrink?"
"She is my son's mother, not my wife but yes. She was. But I think they don't go by that name anymore" Tilda beamed. " See you been doing you're reading,"
"Well, it takes a while to catch up. Years and years of information are just getting to back me. Give me a break."
"Has she spoken to you yet?" the subject suddenly became more serious. "Or is she still keeping her silence?"
"She'll actually be at the meeting," Kellan choked.
"Were you planning to tell me or?"
"Or what? You need to put on you're makeup or something?" she teased. "Look, there's going to be a lot of familiar faces there that are willing to help with the case. So brace yourself. And get ready for a lot of condolences."