Simon doubted that. Tom had been kind, but also upright and proud, like father. Some teenage brother's aberrant feelings had made little impression on him, and he had listened and tried to cheer Simon up with promises that it would go away and bad jokes. But if Tom would have known how his brother would one day defile himself in return for money... Perhaps he would forgive, take pity even, but Simon could feel the shame burn in him at the mere thought of it. "I suppose... I tried courtin' a girl after his death, to try and take his place." He turned to Elijah. "You did better, never pretending."