He didn’t quite know how to react to these questions.  Bad memories suddenly pop into his head.  “They’re dead.”  He says, not knowing how else to phrase it.  “Why don’t we talk about something else.”?  With a smile he rolls over to her, though not under the covers yet.  “Don’t be afraid in the morning…” he begins, trying to figure out how to tell her he’ll turn into stone in the morning.