His words did calm her a little. But now there was the need to cry, and Rose cursed herself for suddenly being so emotional. She could not quite push away the insecurity that had slipped back into her when she had seen Andrew and Abi, nor the hurt she had felt being dropped before. It was always there, lurking in the back of her mind, waiting to be unleashed, and once it was, what havoc it wreaked.

Rose nodded slowly, but did not look up, for fear that he would somehow be able to see all those emotions - and their shameful cause. "Right... I'm sorry." She let go, cleared her throat and gave herself a mental, stern talking to, while she pulled and organized sleeve, which she had used to dry her face, with great concentration.