She listened raptly to his recollection of his childhood. Goodness, she could not imagine living in an orphanage. Karen nodded when he spoke of growing up. "They sound like lovely folk to be takin' ye in like that." She envied him a little for having good parents, but that was kept to herself. All she had as an example was her father, who was not a kind man.

"He must have been a good man to name your son after him," she commented softly on his best friend. She did not have any friends except for him, and he was more than just a friend now. He was her intended.