“Thank you. I know it might seem unnecessary, but-”
“You don’t need to explain yourself to me. I might not like it, but I will respect it.”
“Thank you.”
Alexander nodded then got to his feet. “Well, I should be going now.”
“Must you? You are more than welcome to stay for dinner.”
“I doubt your wife would so readily agree.”
He chuckled. “I have no doubt in my mind that Veronica would be deeply offended if I didn’t try to convince you to stay. She has wanted to properly meet you since, well…”
“Except we did meet that night. That’s why it’s so hard to believe she would want me here.”
“Veronica can be surprising like that.”
“I can see that, but I still don’t know if it’s the best idea.”
“I won’t push you, but think about it and remember the offer always stands. Please, feel free to come by any time.”
Alexander hesitated for another moment then nodded and all but ran from the room.
He never took them up on the offer for dinner, but three dats later, he turned up on the estate doorstep with a look of grim determination on his face.
Christopher didn’t have to ask why he was there. He simply warned Veronica he would be out for most of the day then the pair set off into the woods.
“I’m sorry,” he said, giving voice to those worried. “I shouldn’t have brought you here. It’s so morbid and terrible to take you to your own grave.”
“No,” Alexander said with such force it surprised Christopher. “You brought me here because I asked, and I am glad I did.”
“But why? What can you possibly get out of this?”
“Closure.” He leveled Christopher with a serious look. “Veronica was right. You- you mourned me.”
“Of course I did. I thought you were dead, my best friend. I thought it was my fault.”
“Thought? So you don’t feel that way anymore?”
Christopher let out a long breath. “I won’t say I have moved on and forgiven myself. Truth be told, I don’t know if I will ever be able to do that, but a few days ago, Veronica told me she’s pregnant. I can’t keep living in the past, not if I want to be there for my child like they deserve.”
“Then I suppose a congratulations is in order. I would have sent one sooner, but I must have missed the announcement.”
“No, you haven’t. We haven't told anyone yet. You are the first one.” Then he hesitated for a moment. “Maybe don’t mention to Veronica I told you. She might feel left out not being here for the first time we shared the news.”
He chuckled. “Don’t worry, I will heep the good news to myself.”
“Thank you,” he let out a sigh of relief. “The pregnancy has made veronica a bit… prickly. She has a hard time finding anything she can eat so she can get a bit irritated rather easily.”
“I hope that passes soon. That isn’t expected to last through her whole pregnancy, is it?”
“Thankfully, no. it should pass in the next month or so if the midwife is right.”
“I’m sure she will be, but I hope so too, for your sake as much a s Veronica’s.”
Alexander took a deep breath. “Thank you again for taking me here. I understand it couldn’t have been easy for you.”
“I was happy to be able to do something that could help you.”
