Well, I expect the situation looks more bleak to Ralph than it really is. Yes, Laurie loved Andrew, but he loves Ralph too. Yes, he is mourning Andrew, but the immediacy of that pain will pass.

I tried to convey (but I think I failed) that Laurie is having his "moments" of grief. It isn't constant, and it isn't all pervasive. It hasn't been seven weeks of non-stop tears. And I think we can allow Laurie to shed a few tears in private while listening to Mozart and pondering what "might have been."