For a moment, Frederic felt as if all the air had gone from his chest, but when he met Karen's eyes and saw how bad she felt, he managed to draw it back in. "It's... You're welcome." Searching for something to say, he remembered something Clover told him just toda as they started on the way toward her house. "Clover told me this morning that he's started taking a detour on his way home from school, of his own accord." A small smile grew on Frederic's face and he was certain this information would buoy her spirits. "If you have been finding little trinkets on your doorstep each afternoon as of late, that would be by him." Frederic's heart swelled with pride for Clover as he spoke. What a sweet thing to do, and bright on his son's behalf as well- if Karen ever needed to send for Frederic at a time around the end of the school day, Clover would be there to run home and get his father. Although Clover couldn't have known just how smart and kind this was, Frederic knew, and he was quite impressed with his son for doing it.