"Well, I'm sure she had her reasons," Veronica hedges, diplomatic. Admittedly, the island itself is a sort of resort and she still finds herself missing Neptune. Not enough, of course, to be sorry she's here now with him, but even so, the little pang of loss is there. How far away it seems now, and how strange to have been away from home so long! "But of course, I'd be so pleased to know Stacy better. Any friend of yours is a friend of mine. And after all she's been through, well, I bet she needs friends."

When she puts it that way, it strikes her the teeniest bit as a mission of charity and compassion, and that's too delightful to pass up.