SPOILER!!: Life isn't easy even when it's good
“Everything ok? “ she asked reaching out to grab for his arm to steady him, only he caught himself before she could reach him. She pulled her hands back and clasped them together in front of her.
He wanted to talk? She hesitated a moment, turning to look at the duck on the water before she sat down next to Edward. Stating you needed to talk about something wasn’t a good sign. Was he upset with her? Did she do something wrong? Worse, did he meet someone else? It would explain his bizarre behavior lately. She sat stiffly next to him, crossing her feet at the ankles.
Yep, she definitely wished she had postponed this meeting. She’d rather deal with a grumpy and half-crazed German screaming Emissary. “Is something wrong? Wait- I know what this is about." Krel sighed. "You're mad because I couldn't make the orientation with you at the ministry. Look I told you I was sorry, but Ebberkirk pulled me into that negotiation and I couldn't get away. I tried. I really did." Krel clasped her fingers together tightly in her lap. Sometimes her boss, Ebberkirk, became demanding and no amount of sweet talking, prior plans, or arguing with the man changed his mind. She still felt terrible for having to cancel on Edward last minute.
Edward nodded as she asked after him. "Yes. You startled me a bit. I was wandering my own mind and didn't notice you approach. I'm sorry. I've been a bit distracted as of late." He felt himself grabbing for the fob again and forced himself to stop. He felt like a child, unable to have an important conversation. It was quite embarrassing to him, actually.
He noticed when she sat that she was rigid. As if she'd rather not be here at the moment and then he tried to smile. It came out as a sort of smirk and probably not the most reassuring sign. As she began to speak about her thoughts he reached around her and pulled her close. "No, nothing is wrong." As she continued he nearly burst out in laughter. Apparently, his choice of words made her apprehensive. This was quite unlike Krel. She was normally so collected and it endeared her to him that she would be this nervous. It eased his nerves just a bit. "No, dear. I'm not mad about that. I was disappointed, but I understand the work you've got sometimes makes you unavailable." He knew this from experience as many plans they had made had been cancelled due to her work with capricious witches and wizards who felt that as representatives of other nations that their needs were more important than the lives of people who worked at the Ministry.
Edward inhaled and prepared to speak. "Krel. We've been spending a good bit of time together. I think it's safe to say we've spent as much time together as possible. I know I've been a bit unpleasant lately. I thought that project would produce more results and it's been frustrating and I feel that I've been not the best person toward you. I'm terribly sorry for that. I know you've got much going on as well and you deserve to be treated better." He reached down for her hand. "I think I need to be a better person toward you. I'm a bit frightened of what I'm to tell you and that was the reason I was distracted when you came up."
He turned to the basket he'd set down on the bench after he arrived and opened it to take out a bit of sparkling water and offered her one.