Now that Cat had taken over his company, she was out for much longer hours than Ned was. They'd find a replacement soon - she knew how far along that was going better than he did - but for now the two of them were hectic absentee parents trying to stretch time to impossible limits. At least the kids were grown up now and they didn't have to worry so much about them.
Now that he was home, he tapped a well-deserved cigarette out of its box and was about to head out to the balcony with a lighter in hand when he heard the doorbell ring. The unlit cigarette dangled from the corner of his mouth, and the lighter was in his right hand as he opened the door with his left.
"Hi." He didn't recognise her, but she didn't look like a saleswoman and he could tell that she looked a little pale. He plucked the cigarette out of his mouth, holding the lighter against his palm with his last two fingers.