Balthazar's only half-listening to the little girl at this point, although he makes quiet murmurs of acknowledgement and agreement at appropriate intervals, and even chuckles along with her. His attention is split between his own reverie, and the touch of his brother's Grace.

I'd like to help. It's a slow communication, reserved, but genuine. But I don't know what to do with them, other than play games and color pictures and feed them candy. I don't want to make things worse.

Privately, he thinks Raphael needs an outlet like this. Maybe the rest of them do, too. Maybe Heaven hasn't been missing God as much as it has humanity.