Victor laughed as he saw the surprised expression on the masked woman's face. Embarrassment and sympathy were reflected in his eyes, and he felt momentarily relieved of the tension that had built up during the day with that brief exchange of laughter.
"Don't worry," he said, catching his breath. "Sometimes laughter is the best way to deal with difficult situations."
The woman's gaze softened. "You're right, and in a way, I understand. I raised my son alone, too. Life throws us a lot of curves and all we can do is try to keep up, right?"
"So it's been a long time?" asked Victor, trying to keep the conversation light.
"Yes, my son is all grown up now," she replied with a hint of pride in her voice. "He will be 21 soon. A young warrior, though I think he's inherited a lot of his father's personality. And your daughter?"
