He keeps hold of his hand, stroking the back of it with a callused thumb, new calluses in different places since he has been working construction. "This place does things to us. We both know it. I would never hold something like that against you. I hope you know that."

He's trying to catch his gaze. For the latter statement, he reaches to tip his chin up and brushes away a couple of the tears with a stroke of the side of his index finger.

"May I hold you?" Sometimes a gesture can say more than words.