Nikita’s eyes were on her phone. Joel’s name lit up the screen. She’d been ignoring his calls for the last two days. He’d been sending her messages non-stop, asking her where she was with the girls. Alyssa had warned her to be careful if she spoke to Joel, because he might end up using her words against her. Nikita stood by the window, her gaze going from her phoe to the swing set some workers were assembling on the back lawn. Her mind drifted to a mix of emotions. Kyle had cleared away some of his precious flowerbeds to make way for a swingset for her girls to play on. It was a gesture that spoke volumes. The crisp autumn air carried the sound of hammers, laughter, and the distant rustling of leaves. Evie and Mia were ecstatic, watching from a safe distance with Lorraine. Kyle’s presence
