Sun Mote Copse Mixed feelings

He let her cling to him for a while, which Towhee appreciated. But in order to converse, they would need to let go. She reluctantly let her legs drop and withdrew from his embrace, studying his face for any sign of how his little sabbatical had gone.

She had not expected him to already know about her bad news, nor to have spoken with Niamh. "What?" she blurted dumbly. She should've been grateful, she supposed, that she didn't have to hash it out yet again. But, strangely, she felt a little weird that he'd already heard secondhand and from Niamh, no less.

After taking a moment to process and get her bearings, Towhee asked, "I thought you left to avoid Niamh?"