Her eyebrows lift, plainly so with no intent to hide it. It's practically invited with an admission like that.

"Ah, trouble in paradise?"

It's interesting, too, finding someone who would use a five-year-old's murder of a string instrument to get back at their husband. There's passive-aggressive, and then there's cruel and unusual.

"I think I might buy this one for myself, if I can, but I could probably help you find something inexpensive and of suitable quality for your son's age." That is to say, cheap and crappy. She doubts a Capitol store would stock something too poorly made, and she's not an expert on violin manufacture, but she can tell enough. Besides, she's curious.