"Yes, but I'm a much better salesperson than Visser Three. He's like one of those informercial types - all yelling and repetition and very little substance." She clears her throat and does her best Billy Mays-esque impression. "And if you submit to Yeerk infestation in the next twenty minutes, you get one free decapitation with your next purchase!"

She forgot all about the time he lost. Looking at him now, the subtle shifts in body language, the worry written indelibly on his face, she's amazed that she was so oblivious. How could she be so blind to her own son? How can he be so blind to her?

In a way, it suddenly strikes her how much Peter helped keep them together after the war. For all his weaknesses and pettiness, he kept her grounded. And her grounded was much better than her jailed.

"I'll give you an early notice whenever I'm about to hold an extra-long book club session."