[ She watches him carefully, the way he reaches out to Max and how he looks at his hand. Yeah, he's coping alright. ]

You can't keep doing that, sugar. I know it's hard, believe me I know, but you've gotta start working toward getting used to things again. Nothing's ever going to be exactly as it was before, but you've gotta figure out what your new normal's gonna be.

[ Setting her hand down on the bed in the space between them, palm up and waiting, she hopes that at least some of this will get through to him. ]

Baby steps are just fine, you know. You don't have to be okay all at once.