The inside of the home was tidy, bright, and lived-in in the best way. Toys tucked into bins, cheerful artwork taped to the fridge, the faint smell of laundry detergent drifting from somewhere down the hall. It felt like a house where routines mattered, where people tried their best.
Then Tommy appeared, peeking around the corner. He clutched a stuffed dinosaur to his chest, his eyes big and curious. Kayla crouched a little and offered a soft smile. “Hey, buddy. I’m Kayla. I hear you like dinosaurs.” Tommy nodded shyly, inching closer in that tentative way little kids do. Just as Kayla felt herself relax, Tommy’s mother Sabrina walked in.