"I liked you." Her glance was half-tender and a little amused. "And I knew you wanted me here, even though you tried not to show it." She paused. "There was another reason, too."
"What was it?"
"You know Marlin Ross lived here once?" He nodded. "Well, there was a note from him on the spaceship you came on. It was addressed to my father, asking him to take care of you. He and Ross were good friends. But my father is dead now, and so the letter was given to me."
"And so you've been taking care of me."
"Yes."
"But I'm sure he didn't mean it literally—taking care of my house and fixing my food and—"
"No, of course not. He just meant to take care of you, give you what you needed. But you needed this. You needed to be waited on a little."
"I guess I did." He could find nothing adequate to say. "Thank you."
There was a moment of silence.
She put aside the broom, which was still poised in one hand. "Let me make you some jen. You look tired."