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punishment for stepping into her life and creating this mess.
    And then her eyes were closed, her body slumping into the couch. Benjamin carefully laid her down, stroking her cheek with his hand. He wasn’t cruel or sent here to penalize; he was a rule-keeper and while portions of his work were difficult, AJ knew how tremendous of a task it must have been to be responsible for such things. He admired Benjamin almost as much as he hated him for this.
    Benjamin covered her up with a blanket and turned to the group.
    “It’s best we go. When she wakes up, she’ll be frightened enough. No need for her to wake to a house full of strangers she can’t remember.”
    Max held onto AJ, worried that the powerfully built man would crumble at a moment’s notice. AJ walked in reverse, unable to take his eyes off of her. They were out the door, Max’s hand pulling lightly on the knob to close it.
    “I’m sure we’ll be hearing more from you, AJ,” Benjamin said, his hand extended towards a man he knew only wanted to use a free hand to punch him. “I’m sorry. I hope you understand.”
    AJ nodded. He didn’t like it, but he understood.
    Gram pulled up as Benjamin neared his car. Without words, Gram knew as she stepped out of the vehicle who these people were. Her face dawned with recognition, a hint that perhaps she’d seen them before. Benjamin nodded at her. AJ wondered if he’d been right. Rose popped out of the passenger side, fear painted across her face as she glanced over the strangers in front of her. Any other day, she would have welcomed them as her new friends with open arms. Today though, she only wanted the reassurance that her mother was okay.
                  “Hi,” Benjamin said, a smile across his face.
                  “Hi,” Rose replied, clutching her ragged, stuffed bear so tightly to her chest that her knuckles grew white. Her eyes bolted to AJ and she scanned him head to foot and then once more for good measure. He seemed fine, and she loosened her grip on the teddy bear.
                  “I’m Benjamin,” he replied, extending his hand.
                  “I’m Rose,” she mumbled, slipping her dainty hand into his. “Gram, where’s Mommy?” Gram had nary a chance to answer as Benjamin redirected the conversation.
                  “That’s a mighty nice bear you have right there.”
                  “Thanks,” she whispered. “I’ve had it since I was a baby.”
                  “Well, I can see you take really good care of it. You’re a very special girl,” Benjamin replied.
                  “Are you here visiting AJ?” The little girl grew impatient. She wanted these strangers to leave and allow her back to the house, which Benjamin currently had blocked by taking up the width of the entire path.
                  “We are,” Benjamin replied. “He’s very special, too. Will you take care of him for me?”
                  “Sure,” she smiled, glancing up at AJ with the mischief that always dotted her eyes. Momentarily, she forgot about the fear. Looking at AJ had that effect. When she caught Gram’s eyes, she remembered why they’d raced here in the first place. Even though Gram had tried to hide her worry, Rose sensed the urgency in the drive.
    “Can I see my mommy now?” she asked with tears on the brink of breaking loose. Benjamin could feel her alarm and relegated himself to ending the conversation.
                  “Well Rose, I hope to see you again someday.” He leaned in towards the girl and whispered in her ear, and a faint smile found its way across her lips. In an instant, AJ knew what was happening. Benjamin looked at him and that was all it took – AJ promptly slid behind Rose, his arm around her back. As Benjamin shook her hand goodbye, she felt the same shock that had rippled through her when Devin had touched her. Benjamin