[Her sudden burst of concern takes him by surprise - partly because he doesn't feel like he's capable of such a burst of passion, and partly because he'd mostly been talking about the chronological gap - her great-grandparents might be children, in his time, if they've been born yet.

But his hand is pressed between hers, and she sounds so... determined, that something deep inside him that's atrophied overnight can't help but rise to meet her, just slightly.

His hand tightens around hers.]

I hope you're right, my dear. Whatever happens here... I have business to attend to. But if I can't come to two thousand eighteen... I'll always be cheering you on.