Of many things Nelson could understand it was Anna's sentiment, and even more so her expression of it. He was guilty of stress-eating and chocolate could be a particular vice -- all that had kept him from helping himself to anything tonight was his own concern over getting motion sick once the boat began to move.

"Sorry," he said to her, an expression of sympathy. He was a clean-cut, non-threatening sort of man; it was not disingenuous. "None of us are supposed to be, but as far as I know the only way home is simple luck of the draw. It isn't all bad."