Her mouth formed an "O" at Rose's vague confession about her brother being killed. She reached over and patted the girl's arm in sympathy. "I understand that it is hard to talk about. I won't push you any further if you aren't ready to speak of him." And then Rose spoke of her sister again and she nodded softly. "I am sorry for her that she is so unhappy..." I would not call it a blessing, she thought to herself. Indeed, love was a hard thing to set aside for a man or woman you did not.