[ Not because of you, she wants to say, but that can't be the battle she picks right now, when she needs to convince him that he made it out alive. ]

Right. [ She looks to him, watching his reaction. After a moment, she reaches out to grip his shoulder, touch gentle. ] We heard you. Me, your mom, and Jonathan. We took you away from everyone else, so we could it make it too hot for that — thing to bear.