"I remember her library being quite impressive, when I visited her at her home." Forever reading, forever writing. She hadn't been able to do either of those in Allerdale, from what he could tell. He regrets that.

"I would be happy for her continued friendship. We were married. After what we've been through, that she speaks to me at all is a small miracle."

Thomas takes a drink from his mug.

"I think both of us are walking a fine, uncertain line." He laughs a moment after he says it. "I'm making this sound terribly clandestine, aren't I?"