46. Settling In

As I stepped inside, the room seemed to envelop me in warmth and elegance. Kelly was already bouncing on the bed, her laughter filling the space with a joy that momentarily eased my nerves. I couldn’t help but smile at her, though my heart still felt heavy with uncertainty.

“Mommy, look how big this bed is!” Kelly squealed, her tiny hands spreading wide as if to show just how vast the bed seemed to her small frame.

I chuckled softly, walking over to her. “It’s nice, isn’t it?”

She nodded excitedly before hopping down and running to the large windows that overlooked a lush garden below. “Can I play there tomorrow?” she asked, pressing her face against the glass.

“Of course, sweetie. We’ll explore everything,” I said, though my mind was still buzzing with thoughts of how Kelly was taking everything, she was a happy girl a contrast to how I feel. And sometimes I feel she's the only reason I would ever smile, but now Ivan was part of it. “We'll check out the garden tomorrow, let's settle