Neither

Mrs. Carson makes no move to disengage her hand, so neither do you. You simply break gazes with her and begin to stare at a decorative vase in the foyer. Your heart is hammering against your rib cage, threatening to bust right out as a familiar sensation starts down low. An image of a leather boot planted near the same location and a pair of viridian eyes staring down at you flashes through your mind's eye. You stamp down on the memories hard, knowing that getting an erection at this particular moment in time would be utterly inadvisable.

For about a minute, you two simply stand in each other's company, a single point of contact between you as the silence drags on, interrupted only by her gentle slurping.

Finally, you can take the silence no more. "Mrs.--"

"He was wrongfully accused."

Your gaze snaps down to her. "Excuse me?"

She sighs raggedly, staring off into the distance. "My husband. He was wrongfully accused, of a crime that was...nothing short of disgusting." The skin around her eyes tightens as she resists a sudden cringe of grief. "And he--I--I stopped believing that he was--"

Your jaw drops and eyes widen. "No," you whisper. "Oh God."

Her lips tremble, eyes downcast. "He lost hope when that happened. And he..." her head tilted briefly, the cringe breaking through, "he hung himself in his cell. Because of me. Because I failed him." A ragged, bitter laugh erupts from her throat as her hand slips from yours. "I haven't told anyone that." She laughs again, wiping her leaking eyes with her free hand. Her eyes glance up at yours. "Why you, I wonder?"

You blink, wondering for a moment whether the question is rhetorical or not. You decide it's not. "Because you see him in me."

The detective stares at you for a moment, her sad smile widening just a little. "So...not so oblivious after all."

The comment forces a brief smile to your lips, fading quickly as she finishes her cider and turns for the door. She's halfway there when you realize she's still holding the empty mug, moving on autopilot. Her head turns to face you.

"I'll uh...see you later, eh, Jace?"