Claire already suspects based on one small interaction. She'd be lying if she said she wasn't jealous; she should know her husband better than anyone, and yet twenty years have created a gap of missing information. It isn't fair, but it isn't John's fault.

"And no doubt, I rarely left you alone." Once she's satisfied with her gentle cleansing, she uses her clean fingers to lightly dab a cooling salve onto his skin to help numb the area. She can't do anything for the damage she can't see right now, but she has pills for that now, thank goodness.

"I know it may seem repetitive to you, but I think I'd like to have those conversations again, at least some of them. Although I'd prefer that you not need any doctoring when we do." If the men in her life could keep from being hurt for just a few weeks at a time, it'd be wonderful.