"I am Iris Carpenter," she murmured in reply, her eyes turning back toward him as he spoke to her. She gave a shy smile. "It is lovely to meet you, Thomas." There was definitely a return spark from her, for she caught herself hazing for a little longer than polite and then she started to retreat into the shell that she'd built around herself since her marriage to a man who she regretted crossing paths with.

The young widow moved to sit at the edge of the dock then, glancing up toward him. She said despite the fear she felt, "You are more than welcome to join me." It felt bold to say so, but she had to start somewhere. She could not keep living in fear that she'd meet and marry another awful man like her late husband. She had to remind herself that not everyone was out to get her. "If you'd like, that is," she offered.