She frowned right back at him. "You're being obstinate and foolish, big Brother." she tapped him on the nose three times with her finger to emphasize this. "If you do not love her now, and I am saying if because I think you do, you just haven't realized it yet, you will soon. She is wonderful and absolutely everything you need in a woman, and I can understand your reticence, but I knew Helene too and it seems to me that she would have wanted you to be happy."
She let go of the kitten's belly only to begin rubbing its back. "I know you are trying, but I think you need to try a little harder so you won't push happiness away with both hands as you have been doing for so long."