Ocean's Breath Plateau tagadal

He let out a slow breath. That was Vaire and all six of the children accounted for — although the older three could hardly be considered children any longer. He looked helplessly between the two girls — both so grown! — and felt tears prickling in his eyes once more.

"I'm sure you done real good," he said, and he meant it. She shouldn't have had to care for her mother at all, and one day, Valiant would tell her that. Right then, he didn't want to cheapen all that he was sure she must have put into it. "I'm — " But how could he? How could he leave her here? How could he stay a moment longer, knowing his wife was ill? "I'm gonna go help 'em, now," he said, though his voice grew thick. He had to pause and clear his throat.

"Are you gonna be here long?" he asked her, wondering what reason she had to be here. Something about the way she used past-tense made him believe she did not intend to return with him, if at all.