A small fountain sent soothing sounds into the air, a sweet trickle and tinkle that relaxed her. She filled her senses with fragrant flowers and greenery nearby. Her mind spun with the implications of what her father had confessed. When the door opened behind her, she turned and spied Mark walking toward her. His face was hard and drawn in grim lines, as if he’d been given bad news. God, she hoped there wasn’t more. There couldn’t be more. Everything that had happened in her father’s room weighed heavy on her heart. She stood and tried a smile. “That wasn’t a few minutes.” “Sorry.” He didn’t look as if he regretted it. His warm hands cupped her shoulders. “I didn’t want to leave you alone too long. You okay?” Her throat tightened. “I don’t know. I can’t decide how to feel.” “Maybe now is a good time to just feel rather than to decide.” His statement hit her in the stomach, and she lost all her air. “That’s profound.” She saw a flash of exasperation in his gaze and lowered her eyes.
