She listened to him with his similar concerns and she nodded in agreement. Her eyelids lowered some as she grew thoughtful. Karen was not smiling. She was about to reply to him when he started speaking again and found his hand touching her cheek... She let out a breath she didn't know she had been holding in. Her eyes closed and she swallowed heavily. "I didn't say anythin' until now because I needed time ta heal and..." she sighed, leaning into his touch, opening her eyes, and looking at him with those big browns. "And I have. I'll never forget Harold or stop lovin' him, but he's gone. The nightmares I have of his death come less often now."

She paused for a moment and then smiled at him, "I could always quit me job, ye know," she threatened but not seriously. "But then ye would have ta find someone else ta wash yer clothes and she just wouldn't be the same." Her eyes danced with amusement. She was having fun with him now. "What do ye think?"