That he sounded overwhelmed finally penetrated her awareness. Collette slowed down, giving his hand a squeeze, breathing in and offering a smile as she breathed back out through her nose. "There is a lot, huh?" People, things, time misplaced, and opportunities rediscovered.

Maybe that last thought is why she said what she said next.

"I'm sorry we couldn't do more for Regina. But she was free, at the end. We all made sure of that much. I told her --" Collette looked away. She forced herself to look back to Martin. "I told her you were loved here, and that she wasn't alone, and you weren't, either."

Her eyes teared up for very different reasons then.