Being positive was a trait that Joan had had even before shed begun to work as a sober companion. When you were grinding yourself down to the bone in order to get out of medical school as valedictorian, depression was a very real and possible enemy. And that, of course, was obviously nothing to watching your entire world rip apart.

"But you're here now," Joan said, agreeably. "This is the safest place I've ever been in, personally."