As everyone began leaving, Diane approached Aaron.
For a second, she seemed unsure what to say.
Then she placed both hands around his.
“I owe you an apology.”
Aaron looked confused.
“For what?”
“For assuming the worst.”
“You didn’t.”
“I did,” she said. “I thought you were making something private into a public event.”
Aaron glanced toward Lily.
“I asked her before the others came in. I told her I had invited some friends, but I didn’t tell her what they had done. I said they would leave immediately if she wasn’t comfortable.”
Diane closed her eyes briefly.
“Of course you asked.”
“I didn’t want her to feel trapped.”
Diane squeezed his hands.
“You have been very good to her.”
Aaron shook his head.
“I love her.”
The simple certainty in his voice broke something open in Diane.
She pulled him into an embrace.
Aaron hesitated before hugging her back.
