"You can connect without showing off everything that's hurt you." Which is only a half-truth; Dan keeps his hurts to himself, and as such has had so very few honest connections in his entire life. But he doesn't see himself as wrong.

But he gives a soft smile nonetheless, because this is a sweet moment, watching Tante Mattie engage the boy so. He wonders how many books young Remy has had a chance to leaf through in his life.

He looks to the Ghost. "Are we going somewhere else, or is this where you leave me?"