"Well, that's unfair." He accepts the milk and reaches out with his other hand to stroke his face gently. "But sometimes people are like that. Humans aren't always good to each other, either. I think mostly it's fear."

"And I do like you. You have a good heart." He pours milk into the pot and stirs a little, then offers to let Roi take the spoon and do some of the stirring. "Try and keep the oysters from settling at the bottom too long and burning, okay? I'll slice bread and get out bowls."