Lucas

Just picked Lucas up and brought him home. The poor kid looks like he's been through the wringer. Just absolutely beat down and lost. He called at the tail end of dinner to say he was at the coffee shop. So I went to get him after wrapping up some food and sticking it in the oven. Glad I did. He's too thin for my liking, and his glasses only go so far in hiding the dark circles under his eyes.

He's a little beat up... apparently he was in a fight earlier. Didn't really give details. Well, I guess he'll talk when he's ready. It's more the air of anguish that he carries that worries me. He's my height, but seems smaller... the weight of the world on his shoulders, and he hides his damaged hand. I've taken pains to pretend not to notice. He puts on a brave face, but... well, I hope we can give him what he needs to heal here. And if Joel comes, maybe I can do something for him like I did for Lullaby.

I thought Lucas would conk out once he ate, but the girls dragged him out to the garden to show him around. They've been out there ever since. Apparently they're having a marathon session of checkers, winner plays the odd person.