"I think you should absolutely tell me when you get around to your first kiss," Helen said. "I'm starved for good news here. All I do is pick herbs and make bandages. If I can be entertained by the blossoming of love between old friends, well. It'd make me very happy."

She laughed softly. "I'm very old, Beverly, there's little that's novel to me any longer. Even still, I am fond of my friends finding happiness and never tire of hearing about it."