Emily pulled out a chair but did not sit.

“You told me your contact had helped clear the delay.

You didn’t tell me the file was still provisional.”

“I thought I was helping.”

“You helped me accept something I had no right to treat as finished.”

Richard opened the gift box again, then closed it without putting the cuff link inside.

“I did not want you to spend another year waiting while people decided whether you were ready.”

“I was supposed to let them decide that.”