That went back and forth for about an hour until Mike threatened to change the locks the next time we went out, so that was that. A couple of days later, we were at the train station. Mike had said his goodbyes at the condo. We both promised to be back out for Thanksgiving in October.

At the train station, Daddy was pensive. I tried to be supportive and cuddle into him a bit. I also resolved that if our time in the Rockies was to recharge me for school, my job was to distract him from thinking about his parents.

"Kitten, I know it's probably a long way off,...