"Just today," she replies. "It's been a trip."

Boats, sand, dinosaurs and jungles being seasoning on the dish of being alive again. Tess's smile feels halfway to a grimace. Never her in her life would she expect a warm or relieved welcome; he needs his space. She can just assure him of one thing:

"Haven't turned. Hasn't gotten worse, either."

No need to Old Yeller her.