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Cody sat on a picnic table with his feet on the seat. His arms were spread behind him, and he had his body pointed to the sun. The guy had fair coloring and so always applied SPF 60.

You could join him. Enjoy a moment’s quiet before dinner.

I planned to eat dinner with the group tonight, but then aimed to generally make myself scarce at night from now on. Everyone knew where to find me.

My phone buzzed with an incoming text.

An address and a photo of two adorable-looking dogs. Both actual pooches and neither was of a breed I recognized. Possibly mutts?

Shot back a thumbs-up and tucked my phone into my back pocket. I grabbed my sunglasses and ball cap and headed out.

I tried to be quiet, but Cody clearly heard my feet on the gravel as he sat up straighter and turned his head in my direction. “You going to join me?”

“Sure.”Casual. Like this wasn’t always the plan.I sat on the table with him. “I won’t ask how it’s going…”

He chuckled. “Nothing to report. I have no idea, at this point, how much I’m going to be useful.”

“You’ve got times set aside for each camper, right?”

“Yep. Every couple of days. We’ve let them know there’s nothing wrong with wanting more and it’s also okay if they feel they need less.”

“Yeah?”

“Brielle, Francis, and Elliott all come across as really settled and content. We both know first impressions might be misleading.” Cody scratched his nose.

“True.” I considered. “And you’re worried about?”

“Keegan for sure. The young man has some kind of underlying issues. Even putting aside the fact he’s an orphan—his word, not mine.” His file painted a bleak picture of a kid in pain.

“You met his stepfather.”The memorable guy.

“Mr. Fulton? Seems like a nice guy. Keegan had good things to say. About the gentleman stepping up when his mom got sick, marrying her, and then adopting him and his sister.”

“That’s a lot.”

“Therearegood people in the world. I would definitely put Chris’s parents in that category.”

“Yeah?”

Cody nodded. “Chris says their parents are completely supportive. Excited, even. Well, of their child feeling comfortable enough to attend camp. High school next year is a whole other thing.”

“They’re from West Vancouver, right?”

“Yeah. Very conservative area. Their parents are worried about how they’ll do in high school.”

“Well, we’ll do our best to see they’re prepared, right?” I slanted a glance at Cody.

“I counseled several nonbinary teens during my practicum. Each kid is unique, though. All four of Chris’s grandparents insist on gendering them.”

“Ouch.” Of course if I’d been nonbinary or trans, my parents would’ve done the same damn thing.

“Yeah. So all the aunts, uncles, and cousins feel free to do the same. Chris is hanging in there, but it’s not easy on them.”

“I’d say not. I was reviewing the applicants for the next session. Two trans teenagers.”

“Just as tough.”

I nodded. “Both have parental consent to attend, and sometimes that’s the highest hurdle.”