Eric sighed. 
"I was only working so hard because I had to make money. I need to survive. I want to be able to keep this house, and have a family of my own. in fact, if I ever married, I probably would have slowed down because I had someone else to think of. well, I may not be dating the person now, but I do have them to think of."
He faintly smiled in reassurance. 
"if it makes you feel better, less worried, i'll slow down while you are living here. I don't want you to cry again because of me."