When I married Rachel, I knew I was saying “yes” to more than just her—I was stepping into a life with her two young daughters. From the outside, it all seemed perfect. Sophie and Mia were sweet and spirited, and Rachel carried a kind of quiet grace that made everything around her feel calmer, lighter.
Our home together wasn’t brand new, but it was full of charm—polished hardwood floors, cozy corners, and the ever-present scent of cinnamon candles drifting through the air. It felt like a home that had been lived in and loved.
Except for one place.
