Elijah smiled happily. "Thanks for talking with me, I really needed this."

"Ye know ye're welcome any time, Elijah. I'm glad you feel a bit better," said Ben. "Don't be too hard on yerself."

Elijah stood to leave and nodded to him with a smile. "Thank you kindly, Ben. I am glad I came." He helped put the dishes in the kitchen and looked at the man. "You are so kind to help me after the trouble I've caused you." He shook his hand and headed to leave.

Ben frowned. "You? Causin' me trouble? I told ye to stop talking so negatively about yerself. Ye've been nothin' but help to us, and we're grateful."

Elijah looked at him and chuckled. "Let's not pretend. I was very difficult about Alice getting married. I admit I'm still not happy but fighting as I was wasn't making things better."

Ben shook his head. "We were all upset at the time and neither of us responded as we should. I'm not happy with it either, and I worry about her every day. I am not angry with ye for carin' about her so much."

Elijah nodded, "I am still sorry for having been difficult. Thank you for understanding. I do hope she will be safe."

"She seems unhappy, but Tobias seems to treat her well. With time, I hope, she'll get used to her new life..." Ben explained.

Elijah nodded. "They are practically strangers. I hope they do grow to at least like each other's presence well enough."

Ben nodded, turning the cup on the table absent-minded. "I suppose once the child is born, that will help her warm up to him. She'll need his help... And he seems eager to be a father, eager enough to accept a stranger's child. It might help 'em grow closer."