She stopped in front of him and silently watched him for a moment, assessing him. Then she gave a slight nod of her head in agreement and glanced briefly toward the trophies of local fauna displayed high on the wall.
"I apologize for my inappropriate behavior, Mister Doe. Apparently I was a bit more irritable than is usual for me at that moment. I am grateful for your offer to make my stay here more enjoyable, but for now it will suffice if I eat nothing and sip iced water or stronger black tea."
In an apologetic gesture, she curled her gaze to the ground for a second or two before looking him squarely in the eye.
"So what you want most of all is a family, Mister Doe? I would not say that about someone in your position. However, I already know what your parents are like from our previous conversations, but have you tried contacting and finding your extended family, more distant uncles and aunts? They may be completely different people than your father and mother."
She paused for a moment after her question and began to circle the rim of her crystal glass with her left index finger. For a moment she looked thoughtful, or perhaps downright dreamy as she waited for his reply.
