He stares at her for a few more seconds, then lets his fingers slip from the ledge as he straightens. He won't return the apology. For one, he doubts she expects it, and he was right — she just as good as admitted it herself. For another, if he starts apologizing to her now, where will it end? Even he knows an apology would be an implicit promise not to hurt her again, but he knows better. He knows himself better.

It's just strange to have another person acknowledge that.

Now would normally be where he stopped replying, turned off the phone to let her simmer in her own juices (one way or another) until he alone decided it was time to resume the conversation. But she's still here, Ransom staring (still) down at the top of her head. He settles for moving away so he can continue to clean up. And it is different, because if this is happening and how it will continue to happen, then this isn't the end of anything. Just now, or not now.