At that moment Jerry's smile softened a little as he leaned back into the old couch, watching Abigail's confused expression.
He didn't rush to explain.
Instead, he let a small silence sit between them, like he wanted her to truly listen.
"For that reason," Jerry said calmly, "I brought you here."
Immediately Abigail tilted her head slightly, her frown deepening.
"What reason?" she asked, her voice smaller now, almost cautious.
Jerry folded his arms across his chest, his face serious but not cold.
"I brought you here so you could really understand," he said.
"Understand who I am. Understand what we are doing."
At that moment Abigail stayed quiet, her hands folded tightly in her lap.
"Because in seven days from now," Jerry continued carefully, "my grandmother will be hosting her seventieth birthday celebration."
Abigail's eyes widened slightly.
She hadn't heard anything about this before.
