Kay had been taught not to lie to people in the family. That was one of Daddy's rules, like not crying in front of strangers and promptly bringing all boyfriends to meet Daddy as soon as possible. She squirmed and kept looking at her feet to resist the urge to say 'no'.

"I think I can guess." Badd's large shoulders slowly lowered as she sighed. "It's because I'm not one of your people. I can't even speak your language and I have no idea how to give you what Byrne would have wanted you to have. Is that it, Kay?"

Kay looked up at him and stiffly nodded. "It's not your fault, Uncle Badd." She still loved him. He was just ignorant about important things.

"I know. Doesn't make it not true."