"It isn't irrational," Ella said with utter certainty. "You were married to him for years, and you shared things, and it's all still fresh, Helena. Hearing him talk about someone else, it's bound to be difficult, even if you don't want him back." She smiled softly. "You wouldn't be human if you didn't feel a pang of regret," she told her honestly. "I dated another man who lived in the building a long time back, and I would have felt the same thing if he'd been seeing anyone." She looked at her friend, and she saw the unasked question in her eyes. "Iris is smart and strong and entirely not like you," she said, because that was true. "You're warm in a way she isn't, and she has a million walls you don't. Inside, however, I think she's just as vulnerable as the rest of us, if a little more distrusting. Your Peter could not have chosen someone more different."
The description of Boyd's affections automatically made her picture those affections with Daniel instead of the people she mentioned, and her return smile was sad. "Who said I'm not clamoring for attention in my own way?" she asked honestly.