This, at least, was something that he could say without feeling anything but and old, numb ache; "She passed when Abigail was still a child." It hurt, but it was a worn-down sort of pain, and the circumstances were different; no one's poor decisions to blame, only a lack of knowledge and understanding. Oh, those could be railed at, but uselessly so- for Robert, the only acceptable choice was to move on and push forwards.

Not so with Abigail.

Not with his everything.