"More of a packed house." Erskine smiled at the phrase. This was what he enjoyed about talking to people who had no idea; it helped to put things in perspective. "Both of them are back in the country, plus an erstwhile tailor, and..."

Erskine really disliked trailing off into silence, and yet he'd done it three times now. His voice just kept failing him, and he had no idea what to say. What he wanted to say.

He perked up a bit at Micah's suggestion, which was one he hadn't even considered yet. "You know what? No. Drive around a bit, please. I'll pay the extra. Tell me about your packed house. What's everyone like?" Erskine needed normality, for the moment. And this was one of the first times he could ever remember Micah mentioning his family.