The Barkeep was serious before, but something in his eyes changed. He wrinkled his nose as to ward off certain thoughts and feelings about a day meant to be spent with a special somewhere, whether in person or over the communicator. Almost a year had passed since he last spoke to his wife over the telecomm, and it was almost a year since he last heard her voice. He hoped he wouldn't forget how out sounded when he returned home.

To combat that, he turned his focus to the ground. "I'll be fine. It's not like Harriet's home often, anyway."

It still hurt.