"You don't need to be sorry. I... know what sort of man Rafe is. For all his good qualities..." It actually hurts to say. He doesn't even know what happened between them. If Melissa was even the hurt party. But again, he knows Rafe. "I'd like to help. However much you need. Even if it is just making pancakes and watching 80's movies with our kids."

"Sorry. I know he was your friend," she says with the casual air of someone who knows the least bit about it, "but I just had to explain- I don't usually cry on strangers, you know. You got to see a pretty rare event."

"And I don't just invite crying strangers into my house and make them pancakes," he teases. "I guess this is new for us both."

"Thank you for that, by the way, and for offering to set up some play-dates. Scott doesn't have tons of friends yet, but Juliet seems like exactly what he needs."

Hopefully. They would probably get along like a house on fire.

He takes a sip of his coffee and- nods.

"She isn't able to get out much. I worry a lot about it. But she's been doing a lot better lately, so hopefully... it'll be good for her. To be a regular little girl and have a friend."

"Scott can't run around with some of the other boys, which is part of why he's not very good at getting out there. Asthma, for him. What about Juliet? If that's not too private."

He hasn't had to- explain her condition to someone like Melissa in a while. It's surprisingly easy. Lying. But she needs to understand. Especially if her kid is involved.

"She has emotional problems. Has trouble managing her emotions and can get too excited and hurt herself- or others. She's been doing well the past year or so, she started a new set of medications. But it's still a struggle."

Nod.

"Alright. Is there anything I should keep an eye out for?"

"I'll make sure she gets her exercises in before that meet. But that should be avoided when they're together. Competitive games... getting too excited. But she has meds she can take if that happens."

Nod.

"I'll be careful. Maybe they can do it together- Scott carries an inhaler, for his asthma. It's not really the same thing, but..."

"We'll make it work. It's been a long time coming. I can't keep her inside forever, you know?"

Nod.

"I've been so protective of him- it's just that there are so many things out there to worry about. But I need to let him grow and learn how to handle it on his own. Juliet too. They won't have us forever."