"Stuff like that, I don't mind hearing about," he said as he scrubbed, "but don't worry about it too much. Figuring things out can be fun, after all."

He turned to face her.

"I don't want to hear about all the things that are gone. But things I can pick back up? Go right ahead. I don't want to frustrate you. You've got enough of that going on, after all."