Greylen nodded and she continued, “I always knew what I wanted to do, from the time I was just a little girl.” She smiled. “I was obsessed with being the best at everything.”

Greylen was so overcome with pride. As he listened to her talk of her past, ’twas rather difficult not to pull her into his arms.

“I finished high school early. Usually you’re eighteen, but because of my birthday being early and…” She paused a moment and shrugged. “And I guess this consuming drive I had, I was sixteen when I started my undergrad program. I finished that early, as well, and then went to med school.”

“My God, Gwen. How did you accomplish so much, so quickly?”

She shrugged in an attempt to remain indifferent, but her voice held a quality of despair when she quietly answered. “School was all I had, Greylen.”

Greylen saw the tears in her eyes, at once suspicious of what she left out. “What do you mean ’twas all you had?” he asked, determined to understand what she wasn’t saying with that admission.

“I had my aunt Millicent,” she said quickly. “She was wonderful, Greylen.” Her eyes lit up as she spoke about her. “We took trips together, and she always told me how proud she was of me.”

“What of your parents, Gwen?” he insisted as she continued to avoid the issue. It took her so long to answer, for a moment, he thought mayhap she wouldn’t.

“My parents were…busy.” The last word was spoken so low, and, worse, to her hands.

“Busy,” he nearly shouted, outraged on her behalf.

“It wasn’t their fault,” she said defensively. “They were trained just as I was. They were the leaders in their field, Greylen. I was poised to take their place.”

“But what of you, Gwen?”

“I…I…worked hard,” she stammered. “I—”

“Did they never praise your efforts, Gwen?”

“They…they expected me to be the best,” she finally said. “I don’t think they ever realized…”

He lifted her chin so she would look at him. “Realized what?” he prodded gently.

“I just wanted them to be proud of me, Greylen. I tried so hard to make them notice.” She choked on a sob. “I—I’ll never let our children feel so alone and unloved.”

He cursed, pulling her into his arms. How could she have been treated so badly? She gave of herself so completely, she loved with her entire heart, ’twas a wonder she’d not been permanently damaged by their neglect.

“What’s in the satchel?” he asked, hoping the turn in conversation would ease her distress.

“Not enough, Greylen.” She shook her head.