Vernique had been staying with Solver in the main building more and more lately, because Svalin watched them like a weary hawk when they weren't, and the quiet between them was... too much. But Vernique couldn't start the conversation that hung unsaid between them. It hurt too much.
She avoided some of the others, too. Not Marlow, to whom she'd always be grateful, or Kael, who'd tried to make amends. But Aridis... who'd laughed at some in-joke while Solver was in Klatu-barada-niktoheim, and Aslief... whose cold voice she could still hear dismissing her panic. Even Hal, dear Hal, could never understand why she hurt like this.

So she stays in the house except when Solver needs his sunlight. And more and more, they stay in the nursery. But right now, they've ventured to the kitchen. She fixed Solver a sippie-cup.