I smile then, brief but genuine, and I nod quickly as I start to open up cabinets, almost afraid that if I stop to breathe, she'll leave me to my own devices. I haven't been the most welcoming of house guests, too eager to bury myself in work than entertain my hosts, and maybe this is just more of the same, but at least this work -- if it can even be called that -- is more open to outside observers.

"What do we have in here, anyway?" I ask, looking at her from over my shoulder.