Ryan, as I said, had been the first. He was five when he came to live with Shane, under the foster care agreement of three months that Helena had signed her up for. A week after Charlie’s birth, Shane had told Helena that she was ready, and she and Jenny became certified to have a child in their home.

Ryan was a tiny kid. His mother had had drug problems, and he was thin and weak and scrawny when he arrived. He was also very quiet and withdrawn, and didn’t seem to want to play. Shane had tried to take him to the park several times, and he just didn’t seem able to interact with other kids or to enjoy any kind of toys.

Shane and Jenny had gotten worried. They knew he’d had a rough history, but to be so withdrawn for so long concerned them. They hired a child psychologist and were told that he’d grow out of it, but it took awhile. I was concerned that they’d wind up giving him back, but they kept trying, and eventually he was able to smile and play with other kids. Eventually he grew completely out of it, although he did have years of therapy. Shane had insisted on that; she wanted him to be all right with things in his past. Well, as all right as he possibly could be.

Shane and Jenny, an announced couple by that time, had adopted him as soon as they were cleared to do so. It was a pretty big deal, but we tried to make it as easy for them as possible. Everyone had volunteered to babysit and do other tasks for them whenever they needed it, and while they didn’t take us up on most of it, they seemed to be appreciative that the help was there if they needed it.

Ryan had grown into a pretty successful guy. He’d done well in school and had ended up graduating fourth in his class and getting a scholarship to Stanford. He’d gotten into the publishing business after college and was now an established copy editor at Simon and Schuster, so while it was rare for him to fly to LA much anymore, he always made the time if something happened. I was glad he was coming. Alice had always liked him and I did too.

“Come on, let’s get you home. We’ll come back early tomorrow,” Shane said, bringing me out of my reverie. I shrugged and nodded, kissing Alice before I followed them out of the room. I was exhausted and couldn’t wait until my head hit the pillow.