Sometimes, when he said things like that, little murmurs of concern would raise their heads again.

Mostly, though, she was able to sweep them away and focus on comforting her husband. Evie wrapped her arms around her husband and tugged him down for a kiss.

"She does not hate you, love," she told him in her best no-nonsense voice. "She loves you. She loves both of us. Talking just isn't something she's quite ready for."