“I crashed," she said.

"It was a helluva crash. If you're going to go down, go down big. You should be proud." And then he smiled.

He held her hand as it lay on her lap while she lifted her brandy to her lips with the other hand, trembling a bit. When it was gone, he said, "Come on. I'm putting you to bed."

"What if I cry all night?"

"I'll be right here," he said.”