"I suppose she's making up for lost time." But who was the one who'd caused its loss? Well, that could be laid at Argine's feet too. "But I don't expect she can really get back what's already passed."

And after a moment. "And I can understand it feels a bit insulting for her to try."

In some respects, he can understand that very well. He's got his own absentee parent to deal with, but Michael hasn't actually tried to manage his life for him. Which probably would've been met with knives, anyway.