Rory had no way of understanding the look Rae cast her way, but she knew something was up. Knew from the way her friend bit her lip, the uneasy surprise that had touched her features. If Rae wasn't explaining it, there was a reason. The child, more than likely. All she could do was wait for an explanation, as uncomfortable as that made her.
Not that there was any comfort to be found at all. That the little girl could so easily say she was motherless was troubling. It meant she'd been here for a long time, long enough that she'd forgotten whatever name her mother had given her. The notion made Rory pull AJ closer, unintentionally causing the boy to stir as a result.
As scared as he was of the place, AJ wasn't troubled by the other children. He seemed to like them, if the sleepy smile he offered to Marigold was any indication. After squirming out of Rory's tight hold, he waved properly, smiled broader.
"I bet you have a lot of friends here, with a cool name like that," Rory offered, trying to join in on Rae's gentle attempt to converse with the child. It felt awkward, but she went with it anyway.