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“I finally found someone I could trust.” That was the truth. The guidance counselor appointed to her by child services had been patient and understanding, as well as helpful. Mrs. Monk had been the person she needed when the anger and insecurity was at an all-time high. Without that woman, Remi figured she wouldn’t have made it out of her teen years.

“Can I trust you?” Ben asked quietly.

Remi’s breath hitched, and she squeezed Ben’s arm just enough to accentuate her answer. “Yes. I’ll always be here for you, and I’ll give you the truth. Colt too. He’s a good man, and I trust him more than anyone in this world.”

“Yeah. I’m glad we get to live with you and Uncle Colt.”

“Me too, buddy. We’re so glad you and Abby are here.” She looked up at the door and back at Ben. “You want to go in?”

“I’ll give her a chance, but I really just want you and Uncle Colt.”

“I bet Uncle Colt could tell you stories about your dad if you wanted.”

Ben’s eyes widened. “That would be cool.”

“Right. And we can talk about your mom and dad as much or as little as you want. If we talk about them, you’ll never forget them.”

“I like that. I don’t want to forget them.”

Remi hugged Ben again. “You promise you’ll tell us what you need? We’re here for you.”

“Promise.”

* * *

Remi tossed a handful of clothes into the washing machine. The new cabins on the ranch had a washer, a dryer, and a dishwasher, which were the biggest selling points in her opinion. She didn’t need a TV. She needed to be able to wash clothes without hauling them to a laundromat twice a week. Between Colt and Ben, the laundry basket stayed full.

Colt stepped into the laundry room doorway and slumped against the wall. “That was the longest, most plot twisting bedtime story I’ve ever told in my life.”

“Did the bears and kittens stop the alien invaders?”

“Of course. They hurled meatballs at the spaceship until the windshield busted. Then they gunked up the control panel with lasagna. The aliens surrendered, and the bears and kittens introduced them to lasagna.”

Remi looked up at Colt. “I’m sorry. What?”

“And they lived happily ever after.”

“Fine, but be prepared for Abby’s nightmares tonight.”

“Nah. The aliens only wanted to steal our belts and beef jerky. Abby said we should have just let them have what they wanted so they would go away.”

“I’m tempted to agree with her.” Remi stood and closed the washing machine. “Did Ben say anything about the song?”

Colt crossed his arms over his chest. “He said Mark sang that one a few times, but Ben had forgotten all the words.”

“Did he seem happy to talk about his dad?”

“A little. How did things go with the counselor today?”

Remi started the machine and waved Colt out of the small room. She sat on the end of the couch and tucked her feet under her. “He didn’t want to do it. I told him he didn’t have to, but he agreed to sit through the first meeting. I doubt he’ll want to go back.”

Colt plopped down in the middle of the couch beside her and rested his arm on the back. “Was it that bad?”

“No, but even if he does want to talk about it, talking to a stranger is tough. It takes getting used to, and you have to want to be there.”

Colt brushed a thumb over her shoulder. “Is that how it was for you?”

She’d been expecting him to ask, but there never seemed to be a good time to talk about everything that had led to her therapy. It worked for some and not others. For her, it hadn’t really worked until she was mature enough to respect the people who were trying to help her.