She didn't think that the Oliver of today was discontented. Indeed, she could see from the straight line of his mouth that he was comfortable. It looked a stern expression to most, when he sank into thought like that, but Nila had come to understand that he only ever sank so deeply into himself when he was most at ease – and it made her heart beat quicker with delight that he felt such a thing with her.
She didn't think that she would have been overreaching to say that things were going well between the two of them lately. The distance that had begun to grow had been shattered like the ice of a winter thaw. The fear was as distant from Nila's heart as it could possibly be, to the point that she could no longer even understand what had afflicted her. She supposed if she dwelled on it, she would no doubt reach the heart of the matter again, but she dared not risk it.
