"New experience?" he repeated, looking perplexed. "We've all participated in naming the animals in the past."
She nodded. "True, but we've never had a pet before."
He contemplated that thought for a moment and then met her gaze.
"You must have had a very lonely childhood."
Actually, it had been, but it wasn't an unhappy one. Josh had a dog - but then, he wouldn't want to hear about Josh. She smiled.
In many ways I was very fortunate. Mom and Dad let me be a child. It seems like so many children grow up so quickly now."
For a moment he studied her face. "You thought a lot of your parents, didn't you?"
That was a strange question. Didn't everyone think their parents were wonderful people? How did he feel about his parents?
"Sure, didn't you?" She finally asked.
He glanced up at their picture over the mantle, and then at the painting he had given her of her parents. He nodded and his gaze returned to her.
"Yes, but I didn't idolize them the way you do yours."
She stared at him. Did she idolize them? Sure, they were fallible people, but … when did they fail? She couldn't remember a single time when they were wrong. Of course, they had to have been wrong sometime. She sighed.
"My parents were extraordinary people."
He was watching her with a strange expression. "I don't doubt that. So is their daughter, but she's human and so were they."
She frowned. "So what's your point?"
His gaze bore into her eyes. "Do you think they were perfect parents?"
She shook her head slowly. "No, but they were good parents."
"Didn't you ever question things they did … like not letting you have a pet?"
She shrugged. "Probably, but doesn't everyone?"
He nodded. "I did, and I remember it. I don't try to live like they did, though."
She leaned forward in her chair and fixed her attention on him. What did her parents do that he didn't want her to do? Was that why he wanted to leave? Was he ready to leave again?
"What am I doing wrong, Alex?" her voice sounded timid.
His smile was sweet. He did have kind eyes.
"It isn't a matter of doing something wrong, sweetheart. I just hate to see you restrict yourself because that's the way your parents lived. All this time you haven't allowed yourself to have a pet simply because your father thought every animal on the place should earn its keep. Didn't he realize that your happiness had value too? Didn't he notice you were lonely?"