"I'm sure she will," was Sand's response. It was rather matter-of-fact, not so much mild as mostly blank. There was a touch of sadness there. For all that he was a wreck, he'd never lost his empathy. Not feeling something and not knowing how to deal with it outwardly were, after all, two different things.

He picked up the mug and took a long, slow sip... that half emptied the cup.

"Thank you."