[Jilly does many things... but coddling wasn't one of them.

She'd found it rarely helped. Support helped. Listening helped. But coddling was too close to pity. There was no respect in it. No trust. She wouldn't do that.

So, when he rambled, drunken words spilling out one after the other, she didn't pat his hand. She didn't lecture. She didn't frown.

Instead, she pretended like this was the most natural thing in the world. Because, really, it was only the devastating melancholy in his eyes that kept it from being about as ridiculous as their usual conversations. Her mouth turned up in a smile and she kept her tone light even as she guided him towards town]

You know...I honestly don't think I've ever felt the need to water flowers quite like that. But I'm not exactly equipped.