Michael stared at her, his heart beating like a wild thing. “Possible?” he asked.

“Possible.” She tilted her head. “Probable. But not definite. I won’t ever lie to you. I’m going to try. I’m making the calls today. So don’t worry for now. I’m going to take care of you for as long as I can.”

Michael swallowed hard, overwhelmed. “Thank you.”

She smiled sadly. “You’re worth it.”

No, he wasn’t, but Joshua was. “I’m not sorry she’s dead,” he signed, glancing at Joshua to make sure that he still couldn’t see him.

Dani nodded. “Me, either.”

“Same.” Coach let go of Joshua long enough to do the sign one-handed, then resumed his rocking.

“You’re not a bad person for not being sorry,” Dani told him. “But this is something that Meredith can help you with.”

Meredith. The counselor lady. He wondered if she had a dog, too. “I liked her.”

“I’m glad.”

He hesitated. “Last night . . . when we were in the FBI van leaving your house, I talked to Faith. She signs pretty well. Because of Greg.”

Dani nodded, saying nothing, so he gathered his thoughts and went on.

“I asked her why she wasn’t going to be my therapist and she said . . .” He swallowed hard, still unable to believe it.

“What did she say, sweetie?” Dani asked, her signs soft.

“That I was your family and she was your family. So I’m her family. And she thought it would be better for her to not be my therapist.”

One side of Dani’s mouth quirked up. “My brother married a very smart woman with a very big heart.”

“Did she know you were going to try to make us permanent?”

Both sides of Dani’s mouth smiled now. “I think she did. I hadn’t told her, but she knew I was upset that you felt temporary. That you were temporary. I think she knows me better than I know myself sometimes. Are you okay with Meredith being your therapist? She’ll make sure she always has an interpreter for you.”

Michael nodded. “I don’t have family. Other than Joshua.” Dani’s eyes grew shiny with tears, and he knew she understood what he was trying to say. If it means I can have a family, then yes, I’ll do anything. “And I understand if you can’t make it happen,” he added quickly. “The permanent thing. But I appreciate you trying.”

Dani reached out slowly, giving him time to move, but Michael didn’t. He wanted her to touch him. Wanted to feel her stroke his hair. Sighed when she did. This was the way moms were supposed to be.

“You are worth it, Michael.”

Michael’s eyes burned and he could only nod.

“Eat if you can. Let me and Coach do the worrying for now, okay?”

“Okay,” he whispered.