[ She doesn't return the squeeze. But she's not letting go, either. She should. She knows she should. But this feels like an anchor to their conversation, that letting go would simply cause them to drift out of reach.

Malcolm had held her hand when they talked. This is no different. Or so she tries to tell herself.

This may not be an easy conversation. But, it will be honest. or as honest as Carolina and York can manage, anyway. ]

..I know. You wouldn't have been offended if I'd asked you to dial it back a bit. I should have said something sooner. [it might have spared both of them some grief, for one]