Meeting son and mother again

The following morning, James arrived to walk the dog as usual. Rowan anticipated that he might want to discuss the lingering issue from the previous night, but to her surprise, he simply glanced at her sleepy dog, Rolland, who was trotting behind her, and offered a light smile along with a heartfelt "Thank you."

If James didn't initiate the conversation, Rowan suspected she wouldn't have the courage to bring up the topic herself. Thus, the day passed, time stretching on until the approaching evening.

As the day drew to a close, Rowan organized for Rolland to be dropped off at home. She inserted the key into her front door's lock, and as she did so, the door swung open from behind. There stood James, a warm smile gracing his features.

"Hey, do you have a moment to chat?" he inquired.

Rowan's heart quickened, her curiosity piqued. "Of course, I'm free."

With the key still in her hand, she turned and stepped across the threshold into James's house. However, what greeted her was far from