For as much as Karen could press at Mike until he spoke up about his thoughts, she knew better than to poke the bear when it came to someone else's kids. Was she willing to lend an ear? Yes, of course. But she would never tell them that they needed to speak to her. She only wanted them to know that she was someone they could trust. That's all she's ever wanted with these kids. She cares about them as if they were her own, but would never step on the toes of Claudia, Sue, or Joyce. These boys could talk to her, but she would never put herself as a direct mother to them. Mother-adjacent and an adult they could trust, but never to replace what their moms already do amazingly so.
As they make their way into the house she takes in his response, considering it quietly and how she wants to approach it. She knows that some terrible things have happened around Hawkins. The earthquake rattled and shook their community to the core, lives lost and homes destroyed. Things were never going to be the same... and she knew that well with how fast the military was already responding. She furrows her brow a little as they head towards the stairs, pausing at the base of them to look at Dustin.
"I'm not going to press you to tell me anything you don't want to," she assures with a gentle smile, "Just know I'm willing to listen, no matter what it is." She pauses then glances to the stairs before sighing softly, "We do have to go up the stairs to get to the ladder for the attic. Are you going to be able to make that? I don't want you to do anything that could make being sore worse."