Dinner isn't ready.

I saw the table set and ready to serve one, and an assortment of fruits and vegetables laid out on the counter in the kitchenette, but nothing looked ready to serve. And I didn't see the girls around the main part of the house. They would have to be in the bedroom, the bathroom or... outside somewhere?

I opened the bedroom door, looked in, and got a surprise. Paige and Sandra were sitting the floor holding each other - actually, it was just Sandra was holding Paige - and Paige was crying uncontrolably. They weren't wearing the handcuffs, and Sandra had her arms wrapped around the sobbing woman, petting her hair and murmuring to her.

(I remembered; Paige's parents wouldn't accept her lifestyle until she learned how to pick handcuff locks as a safety precaution. It was the first time she'd done that here, though)

Both of them were still functionally naked.

I had seen Paige's eyes well up a couple times, but this was the first time since her breakup that I had seen her actually crying.

Should I give them space or come in and comfort her? I stood for a minute or so just watching and trying to make a decision about this.

To my relief, Sandra looked up and saw me. She waved me over.

Together, we sat Paige up on the bed, and she turned, buried her face in my shirt and continued crying. Sandra grabbed some Kleenex and helped her dry her face off and blow her nose. Only helping Paige was important. Nothing else in the entire universe mattered to the two of us.

After a number of false stops, Paige was ready to talk.