Rena loved the note of pride in Bridget's voice when she spoke of her father and his work; it was entirely endearing, at least in her estimation and her declaration that he was just too busy to shop made her laugh softly and she ruffled Bridget's hair gently despite knowing the girl was too old for such gestures because sometimes she simply could not resist.
"He needs what help he can get, without a doubt," Rena agreed simply, though she glanced up at Abigail simply because it was quite unusual that someone not know that Bridget was Thomas's daughter. She tried not to be obvious but there was no hiding the unasked question in her eyes as she glanced at Abigail. After all, she had said she had known Thomas before, hadn't she? How could she possibly not know Bridget? "Have you been away from town a long while?" she asked instead, the question quiet, almost tentative as she feared it might be the wrong thing to ask or say.