Out of the blue, Matt asked: "How's your dad going?" He stroked Rona's hair idly. "You never really talk about him."

"He's getting better" Rona said. "But there are some things I like to keep to myself."

"Okay" Matt said. Then, he added without rancour but rather just as an observation: "Seems like there are a lot of things you keep to yourself these days."

"I'm cold" Rona said. "I'm gonna go upstairs and get a blanket."

"Do you want me to pause the movie?"

"No, it's all right."

Rona returned a minute later with a light blanket. She settled back down on the sofa, leaning against Matt, and hunched her body up and pulled the blanket over herself.

"You've changed" Matt said.

"Hmm." Rona pretended to not really be paying attention. "Do you think so?"

"It's not a bad thing" Matt continued. "But you're quieter than you used to be. More reserved, I guess. And you don't go out as much."

"I don't have as much money as I used to."

"I know. And I know you didn't feel like going out much last year 'cause of . . . you know. But - you're happier than you were last year, aren't you?"

"Yeah" said Rona, though without excitement. If they were going to have this conversation she was happy to maintain the low-key tone they were currently working with.

"Yeah, I thought so." Matt kissed her on the top of her head: it was the most easily accessible part of her at the moment, the way she was lying. "I can tell" he said. "You're more . . . content, I guess."

"I guess so."

"You're not as lively as you were when we started going out" Matt added. "You've got quieter. But in a good way."

"A good way?" Rona looked at him.

"Sure" Matt said, as if he was maybe just realising it himself now. "It's not a bad thing" he said again. "I still love you all the same."

Rona paused to take this in. It was unexpected. "Yeah?" she asked wonderingly.

"Yeah" Matt replied, as if it was the most natural thing in the world.