Sleepy Fox Hollow To the house in the pines where the road ends

Not what she anticipated.

There were a lot of things that Mahler could lecture Wylla on as they walked through the snow, beginning with her attitude toward her superior. But just like everything between them, his apology came unexpected, especially because she didn't feel there was anything for him to apologize for this time. Things were made awkward between them not by Mahler's behaviour, but by hers.

I noticed, she joked, then frowned, voice catching in her throat, and started again. There's nothing for you to apologize for. It was ... I was in the wrong. Oh, she still vehemently disagreed with his decisions and would even moreso if she knew the half of it, but her criticism was unwarranted. It always was.

I care about kids, that's all, she revealed, but lacked a proper way to tie that in as an excuse for her unsolicited judgment without it sounding equally critical. She didn't wish to re-open that discussion and she was certain he didn't either. I don't know how to talk to you, she said instead, which was probably worse.