Ben had no idea what particular situation Aldous was talking about, and there were plenty to choose from. Staying with Melody after the elopement, weathering all the conversations about divorce, the upcoming separation. He didn't feel particularly like he'd taken the initiative in any of them, or that he had done anything over the past year and change that Aldous ought to be proud of, but his chest tightened at the praise all the same.

"Thanks," he said, a little uneasily. Aldous telling Ben he was proud of him was not a dynamic either of them were used to, and Ben wasn't sure if this was the appropriate response. "And thanks for letting me stay. I think... I think this'll be good," he said after a moment. He remembered his conversation with Art, and how concerned Art had been about ... everything. He'd been right, but Ben hadn't been willing to admit it until forced to confront it after spending a whole day burning all his letters. "This'll be good for me."