What an odd question, she thought, as she stared up at shapes that might as well be meaningless. She supposed she was feeling a bit … too steady.

“Well enough,” she said. “After a drink, I’ll be right as rain again.”

She smiled, though the frowns it etched in her forehead were more telling.

“He’s got young ones that probably did most of it for him. My son will never be the same. Careful, dear.”