"I'm sure I can take some vicarious enjoyment from that," he said, "given my ability to indulge is limited." He noticed her heart wasn't quite in the tease and didn't have to wait long to hear why.

What happened to her mother was something Meredith still discussed in private, a difficult investigation that had left them with more questions than answers. That Quentin had support in his research wasn't in doubt, but all of the tenuous trails led to dead ends. "You had...good examples, loving examples, long before that madman took your mother," he said quietly. "I'm not surprised that he couldn't erase what you knew from your upbringing."

Tentatively, he reached his hand to the top of her shoulder and gave a soft squeeze. "Do you feel like you could ask her?"