[ Oh. That must be why Carver never mentions them more explicitly. That's... ]

That's awful, [ Harold says quietly, truly pained to hear it. His own grief resonates empathetically, like a chime striking a familiar tone. ] I'm so sorry.

... Although, being deceased doesn't mean they can't show up here. In which case they deserve whatever we can offer them.

[ He means that, even without knowing them; it's not a platitude. ]