Samantha eventually gathered enough courage and walked toward Catherine.
Catherine noticed her approaching almost immediately. She looked up from where she was sitting near the smoker and smiled warmly, as though nothing awkward had passed between them at all.
Before Samantha could say anything, she noticed Maximilian.
He had been standing behind Catherine, listening to Bobby argue with several relatives over brisket etiquette. The moment Samantha approached, however, something subtly changed. His posture straightened. His attention sharpened. It was not obvious enough for most people to notice, but Samantha did.
He was preparing himself.
Not for a fight, necessarily, but for the possibility that Catherine might need him.
So... he knows.
The realization settled quietly in her mind.
Of course he knew. If there was one person in the world who knew exactly how hurt she had been by that phone call, it would be him.
