This was Ashton's third day. I walked him through the lively town square, which was full of people going about their business. The environment was friendly and inviting, and I could see Ashton's curiosity as he looked around.

"Everyone seems really nice here," he remarked, his hand never leaving mine as we moved through the crowd.

"They are. It's a close-knit community," I agreed, smiling at the familiarity of it all. As we walked, I pointed out different landmarks to him, like the small hospital where I'd be working as a medical staffer during my stay with Tasha. His eyes lit up when I mentioned it, and I could tell...