It's not that big a deal. It just is. It's like a page from her own playbook. And some people - Will - would say it was guarded or overcompensating or something. Maybe it is. It's also how you cope. When things are crazy, like other-Kate's mom or her life when mom went all weird and withdrawn after dad died and Thad was born, you learn fast. Boo-hooing about it does no good.

Kate nods at her, knowing. It just is. "I hear that. It's kinda like living in gangland or something. You get used to it. You do what you have to."