Eric knew almost immediately the answer to her question. He'd known it when he'd said the feelings had come from way back then. Now she wanted it said out loud. This, he guessed, she could not glean from just feelings.
"My wife."
She had not been his wife originally, but his brother's. But when his brother had died, Eric had been made to step up, he had been bitter about it at first. Yet he had come to love and adore her. She had borne him children and been very good to him.
That love had become the feelings that they spoke of now. It had changed from companionship to what it should have been to begin with.
Eric said nothing else on the matter, he didn't think Baba needed more anyway.