[He shifted himself back in his seat, setting his feet flat on the floor and then he did something that he rarely did these days. He patted his thigh with a hand.] Come here, Jinx.

[Normally she just slid into his lap on her own, but the chair and the situation didn't allow for that easily without invitation from him he supposed. He let her talk though, make a list of all the complications of her life that were twisting her up before he answered.]

We can only control what we can control and exert pressure to other unmanageable elements. Shall we discuss some solutions, or would you prefer to simply talk about all these matters?