[He listens intently, trying to work out how Lalli is doing, trying to figure out what he's doing and how he's reacting. He can hear that she's asking him to stretch out and his breath catches in his throat, his chest heaves once.]

If he has his hands over his ears, don't ask him more questions. It will just overwhelm him. If you need to him to do something tell him what and why and he will when he can. There are containers of roast meat and potatoes that he likes in the fridge in the kitchen, take it for him...

[His breath is hitching with sobs still as he speaks, his voice choking slightly. But when she asks if he thinks she would lie to him and if she had anything to gain, he feels another spike of anger. Manages to restrain it enough to not shout.]

None of that matters. The last person who lied to me about my family's well-being had no reason and didn't seem like someone who would lie.