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trauma. And Ben’s been through more than most boys his age.”
    Sophie glanced at the clock. “Is it time for his session?”
    “Just about.” Hunter rose to pick up a chart on his desk. “You two want to stay for the first part of Ben’s session, like we discussed earlier?”
    “Yes, sir. I’ll make sure Ben talks.”
    Hunter shook his head. “It’s not like that, Grant. Ben doesn’t know me all that well yet, and trust takes time to build. Just have some faith in the process. It’s worked for you, and it can work for him too.”
    Grant stood and walked toward the door. “I’ll see if he’s in the waiting room?”
    “Sounds good.”
    “Your praise meant a lot to Grant. Thank you,” Sophie said once the door had closed.
    Hunter sat back down. “I’m glad. Does this mean you forgive me for picking on you today?”
    “Maybe.” She smiled as she clasped her hands around her knees. “I just worry about him, you know.”
    He nodded. “It’s hard when we can’t change or control our partners. It’s tough to accept them as is.”
    “Is that difficult for most couples? Like with you and Bradley?”
    Hunter’s eyes widened.
    “Whoops, didn’t mean to pry. Forget I asked.”
    He leaned in. “Control’s a huge dynamic in any relationship. Don’t even get me started about Bradley.”
    They shared a grin as Grant led Ben into the office.
    Hunter and Sophie stood, and Hunter extended his hand. “Good to see you, Ben.”
    Ben mumbled something unintelligible as they shook.
    “You shouldn’t call him Hunter, Ben,” Grant said. “He’s Dr. Hayes.”
    He fidgeted as he looked down.
    Hunter offered, “Sometimes my clients call me Dr. Hunter. Would that work for you, Ben?”
    He shrugged. “I guess.”
    Sophie tentatively held out her arms. When Ben stepped into the hug, her shoulders sagged with relief. Since she’d embraced him in the police station last November, thanking him for saving her life, she’d made a habit of greeting him with a hug. Each time she worried he’d stop letting her. “You’re getting taller every time I see you,” she said.
    Grant wore a proud smile as she looked at him over Ben’s shoulder. Then she gestured for Grant to join her on the sofa while Ben slouched in the chair opposite Hunter.
    “Ben, we discussed this last time, but I wanted to check in again,” Hunter said. “How do you feel about your uncle and soon-to-be aunt being here for the first ten minutes or so?”
    “It’s cool,” he said.
    “But you’re not okay with your mom being part of the session?” When Ben nodded, Hunter asked, “What’s the difference?”
    “Dunno…maybe it’s ’cause Grant and Sophie have to do therapy too, so they know how sucky it is.”
    She felt Grant bristle, and she jumped in before he went off on his nephew. “We don’t have to be here, Ben. We choose to keep coming.”
    He sprawled out on the chair, propping his feet up on the coffee table. “Why?”
    “Get your shoes off the table. Show some respect.”
    Hearing Grant’s sharp tone, Ben complied, sitting up a bit.
    “We come here to make our relationship better,” Grant said. “Get things out in the open, try to understand each other more, learn how to deal with the painful parts of life.”
    Ben peeked at Hunter, who sat quietly observing, then looked back at Grant. “So you get things out in the open…like secrets and stuff?”
    Sophie glanced at Grant, wondering if he was also thinking about the Logan bombshell.
    “Sometimes,” Grant said.
    Hunter asked, “Do you have some secrets you’re thinking about?”
    “Nah.” Ben looked down.
    Hunter studied him. “You had a swim meet on Tuesday, right? How’d it go?”
    Grant smiled. “He did great.”
    “Not really,” Ben said. “I died at the end of the one-hundred fly.”
    “You just have to pace yourself a little better next time,” Sophie offered. “Breathe more the first lap.”
    Ben shuddered. “I hope there won’t be a next time.