Kitty had expected something about the war, losing too many of his people, so to hear loss was the cause didn't surprise her. But so intimate a loss as a wife... she couldn't help thinking of Scott. And Jean. Her eyes filled up with tears, and she reached for his hand. "I'm sorry."

After three years, his grief wouldn't be fresh, but she didn't mistake the lack of freshness for lack of depth or significance. She'd be grieving her dad a lot more than three years.