That wasn’t quite true. They’d invited him to visit plenty of times. He was the one who always had a reason not to show up. He tried to make up for it by sending gifts, but it wasn’t the same.
Maren studied him. “How old is your…?”
“Nephew. He’s three.”
“Younger than Juni.”
“Close enough.”
Maren didn’t push. She just nodded and looked away, like she understood there was more but wasn’t going to dig for it.
The silence stretched.
I should probably say something. Apologize for the hallway. But the words stuck in his throat.
“Colin?”
“Yeah.”
“Thank you again. For tonight. Not because it’s your job.” Maren’s voice was steady but soft. “Because you were really good with her. You made her feel safe. You read her mom’s favorite book and you didn’t make it weird or sad. You just...gave her what she needed.”
Colin smirked. “Totally by accident. I’m not good with kids.”
“That’s not true. You are.” Her lips turned up in a playful grin, the first he’d seen, and it made his heart speed up. “Maybeyoujust need someone to tell you you’re doing a good job.”
He’d told Juni almost the same thing that afternoon.You’re already pretty darn smart about being safe. You just needed someone to tell you that you’re doing a good job.
And now Maren was giving it back to him.
“I’m not—” Colin started, then stopped. “I don’t do this. Kids. I don’t?—”
“I know,” Maren said quietly. “You keep saying that. But, Colin, I watch you with her. The way you talk to her. The way you listen. The way you didn’t flinch when she climbed into your lap today.” Her voice dropped. “You don’t just guard her. Youseeher. Not everyone sees kids. And that’s...that’s everything.”
Colin leaned forward. They were closer now. Less than a foot between them. Close enough to see her eyes in the dim light from the kitchen.
“Colin.” Maren’s hand landed on his arm. “You don’t have to tell me. I’m not asking for your story. I just...I wanted you to know that I see you, too. And whatever happened, it doesn’t change the fact that you’re good with Juni. You’re good at this. Whether you believe it or not.”
Colin looked down at her hand on his arm. Small fingers, short nails, a thin scar across her knuckles he’d never noticed before.
I should pull back.
He didn’t.
“I shouldn’t have said it was just my job,” he said roughly. “Earlier. In the hallway.”
“I know.”
“I didn’t mean it to sound like…” He scrubbed his face.
Like Maren was just another job. Like she wasn’t someone special.
She’s not supposed to be someone special.
Maren squeezed his arm gently, and that small pressure traveled straight through him. “It’s fine! Really.”
“No. It’s not fine.”
“Okay.” Her voice dropped to almost a whisper.
