"Not even empathy," he says quietly, as if musing to himself, "though that would be welcome. Just...a little time taken to understand why I might have done something, rather than making uncharitable assumptions."

"I do things other than trick and lie and manipulate. People forget that. I suppose I make it hard to remember."

He studies her expression with a kind of regret, and shakes his head. "If you'd like to talk about it some time...but not today, I think."

"Next time we talk, I should probably buy the coffee," he adds after a moment's thought. "Though you might well be a married woman by that time. I hope you and Caspar will be well."

He could say a prayer to Frigga on their behalf. Even if his own mother will neither hear nor be able to respond, some version of her still might. Then again, some versions of Frigga have a very good reason to give him the cold shoulder.

Perhaps he'll just keep his fingers crossed for them.