"Hello. Your wife is very nice."

"She is! Do you go by Anna for short?"

Flinch. "No."

"...okay. Are you still hungry? I can warm up some of the broccoli from yesterday."

Headshake. 

"My parents called me Anna-Charlotte. My guardians after my parents died, my mother's cousin and her husband, they said it was a stupid name. They called me Anna."

"Oh. I'm sorry."

"It's okay. You didn't know. And you asked first."

Tabitha nods and then goes and takes over the dishwashing so Veronica can sit with Anna-Charlotte. "How were the books?"

"I liked them. Is Abigail the cat named after Abigail Lydia Claremont?"

"She is! We had one named Lydia too but she died and then we got Paladin."

"Awww. I'm sorry Lydia died."

"It happens. It was a few years ago. Abigail is very old now."

"Abigail's going to die soon?"

"Well, she's still doing fine now, but it'd be surprising if she were around very much longer."

"Oh."

"It's all right. She's had a good long cat life."

"I guess. I still think it's sad."

"You're right, it is sad."

She goes over to pet Abigail some more. Pet pet pet pet. 

At about nine thirty, Veronica asks if Anna-Charlotte is getting a bit sleepy. "The air mattress is all made up in the guest room."

Yawn. "Okay."

"You can make yourself whatever kind of pajamas you like."

After a moment's thought she makes a fluffy pink nightgown and changes the star on her face pink to match. 

"Lovely. Do you think this is enough blankets?" asks Veronica.

"I think so."