Dmitri wasn't sure what a 'crock' was, but he could gather from context and tone, and gave her a sympathetic nod. Maryanne sounded like she was in pain, and had claimed the renovation would be some sort of tribute- he wasn't so sure, but he supposed he was just a kitchen porter after all.
"It seems soon," he did agree, however. "I didn't know Maryanne was owner, though," he added. It had always been Isabel to him. "Maybe we can put up some photograph, use some of her recipes."