She turned away, finding the coffee pot, busying herself pouring a new mug full. "My sweet lady," she said quietly, taking the moment to compose herself, "I'm sorry if my pain makes you feel badly. But try to understand. I can't have you, my dear friend. I can't have Arthur, whom I have always loved. Instead, once again you get each other and this time I am fully aware of how much I am missing. Please forgive me if I feel some bitterness over the whole situation. I am, after all, only human."
Putting the coffee down in front of Adia, she tried to smile, tried to appear unaffected. She was fairly certain she failed. "Do you want some pie, perhaps? I just made a strawberry one I think you'd like."