"We took you and your brother on a skiing weekend once," Libera said, remembering more as she listened to Honos. "Do you remember it at all? You both must have been- six? five?" she looked at Honos for confirmation and then smiled at Mary again. "We took you both up on the children's slope, and I'd bought you tiny matching outfits and-" she laughed softly "- you were so cute and I loved playing grandma. I'm sorry we didn't get to have more times like that, Mary. I really wanted to be your grandma - we both really wanted to be your grandparents, but Aurelia knew it would be better if we left. I think she was right too, to give you a normal kind of life. You never could have had that with us."
Libera leaned down and kissed Mary's hand in hers. "But I wish I could have watched you grow up properly, watch you fall in love, and go to university, and learn so much and love so much. And-" Libera choked a little on her words and then stood up, shaking her head quickly as she moved over to look out the window. She needed a moment.