Kit nodded, wordless for a time, as she took in what he was saying. She knew he'd been about to say that she left Brendan; a fair enough statement, as that had been about the long and short of it. She'd spotted a sinking ship and escaped. She wondered, though, just how much John worried about that. Did he see her as heartless for leaving Brendan when someone weaker would have stayed and coddled him while he pickled himself? Was he constantly worried that he was going to do the same and drive her away?

Aye, but he had, hadn't he? It seemed years ago now, but he'd stirred her up, got her scared. And she, Kit Ryan, she wouldn't take the blame, but she'd left him when things got rough just the same.

Don't go back on it now, she reminded herself. Let's just see what he's got to say.

After all, she hadn't gotten any less stubborn since that day, and she was ready to wager John hadn't suddenly changed professions. So what was there to it this time around but to know exactly what she'd never wanted to bring up before?

"You've made yourself a right career of it, I'd say," she remarked; to her knowledge, John had never had what one might call a normal job. Not that she could imagine him working the average nine-to-five. "And Crowley to? But I'm guessin' the pair of you don't work a lot of kids' parties. What is it you actually... do?"