Their cups of hot chocolate arrived in time to save the day and Lee could feel that Hester liked the smell of it so he picked it up and took a good sip, after which there was soon an appreciative smile on his face.
"It's not as bad as it sounds, Ms. Lily. Or rather, pardon me for saying so, but I don't think it would be as bad." Not that he could really know. He supposed being shifted all out of place and time was the worst luck anyone could dream of and when he tried to imagine what would happen to him if that happened, he couldn't really grasp a good image of it. If he was transported without Hester, sure, that would be more terrible than torture and abuse put together. But you can't really separate one from the other, and Lee had no family waiting for him...so he couldn't imagine the shock and the fright someone like Lily might know.
"I'm sorry I can't help you go back or find a way to talk to your folks back home," Lee said. "I imagine it's the same for everyone here who's lost; you're all going through the same thing. You could, though, consider the possibility that some of your friends are here." Clearly, he was trying to be optimistic here. "Seen some reunions happening."