"We only played one round. He guessed it in 3 questions, but yes, I enjoyed it. He was so puzzled about why were doing it." This time the answer came easily, almost cheerfully. Armand could beam at Bridget with a fierce kind of affection that yes, was nearly parental. It was protective and undeservedly proud. But when he spoke of TK he seemed to be looking off into the distance where... he could just spy a paradise of comfort and warmth.

"He's a lot brighter than he gives himself credit for. Analytical thinking isn't something you just stumble upon by sheer luck. And realistically, I don't think he's much older than you are." Unless he had Bridget's age wrong in his head, which was possible. The boy could be older than he looked. After all, he didn't look like a boy at all.