Eleanor frowned, then turned and headed back to theb to review the files on her USB drive.


    Spring had arrived in full bloom. On the weekend, with everythinging back to life, Eleanor picked up supplies for a pic, nning to unwind at the park.


    She decided on Thursday to take her daughter for a pic at Whispering Pines Meadow. She hadn''t expected Evelyn to excitedly share the news with Vivian. Eleanor hadn''t even left the house when her phone rang-Xavier.


    "Hello, Mr. Vaughn?"


    "Miss Sutton, I heard you''re nning a pic. Mind if we join you?" Xavier''s voice was warm. "I''ve got some ingredients ready-thought I could bring them along." Eleanor was briefly caught off guard, then smiled. "Of course, that''d be great!"


    "Vivian''s been cooped up for ages," Xavier added. "I thought the girls would have more fun together-don''t you agree?"


    Eleanor couldn''t argue with that. Kids around the same age could keep each other entertained for hours and be much happier for it.


    “I''ll have a couple of friends with me too, Mr. Vaughn. Hope that''s alright?" she said quickly.


    "Absolutely. The more, the merrier."


    "Perfect! See you at the Whispering Pines Meadow parking lot," Eleanor replied.


    "See you then!"


    Eleanor immediately called Joy.


    "Why are you dragging me along?" Joy teased. "Wouldn''t your little family pic be more romantic without me tagging along as the third wheel?"


    Eleanor pressed her fingers to her temples, exasperated. "Don''t be ridiculous. It''s just friends getting together for a pic. If you don''te, it''ll just be me and Xavier with the two kids-I don''t want any more misunderstandings."


    "Alright, alright. If it''ll keep you out of trouble, I''lle," Joyughed.


    The weekend brought sunshine and a gentle spring breeze to Whispering Pines Meadow.


    Eleanor had barely parked when she saw Xavier already waiting by his SUV at the agreed spot.


    He was dressed casually in a light shirt, looking much softer and more rxed than usual.


    "Mom, look! There''s Vivian and Mr. Vaughn!" Evelyn pointed out the car across from them, her voice bubbling with excitement.


    Vivian, wearing a pink dress and fluttering like a butterfly, raced over. "Evelyn! I brought my brand new bubble machine-look, you can have one too!"


    The two girls instantly paired off, theirughter ringing out like silver bells through the parking lot.


    "Bringing them together was definitely the right call," Xavier said with a smile as he walked over and took the pic basket from Eleanor. He''d driven arge SUV and was pulling a pic cart loaded with food.


    Not long after, Joy arrived.


    They found a wide, open stretch of grass and spread out their pic nket. Xavier set up chairs and a folding table while Eleanor began arranging the food, with Xavier lending a hand.


    Joy went off with the girls to fly a kite.


    With everythingid out, Eleanor took a breather and watched her daughter


    running andughing across the grass, a gentle smile curving her lips.


    Suddenly, Evelyn pointed into the distance and shouted, "Mom! Dad''s here! Daddy''s here!"


    Eleanor''s smile froze. Following Evelyn''s finger, she spottedn striding across thewn toward them.


    Joy, heading back, looked surprised. "You invited him too?"


    Eleanor bit her lip in frustration. "I didn''t."


    She realized it must have been Joslyn-she knew where they''d be today. That''s hown found out.


    "Daddy!" Evelyn ran straight inton''s arms.


    He scooped her up, kissed her cheek, then looked at Eleanor. "Joslyn said you were all here. I thought I''de spend some time with Evelyn."


    Eleanor pressed her lips together. He was here now, and the girls had already seen him there was no sending him away.


    Xavier set down the te he was holding and walked over calmly. "Ian, join us." Suddenly, the atmosphere between the three adults grew subtly tense.


    Eleanor and Joy sat down to rest, Vivian tagging along, while Xavier went to help them with the kite.


    Joy nced at Eleanor''s troubled expression and gave a low whistle. "You don''t thinkn''s still-"


    Eleanor cut her off, her tone cold. "No chance."


    Joy nodded. "Even if he wanted a second chance, he doesn''t deserve it-not after what he put you through." She''d witnessed firsthand how muchn had hurt Eleanor.


    He''d treated the other woman like royalty and left his wife to suffer he had no right to ask for forgiveness now.


    Eleanor picked up her water bottle and took a sip, deliberately avoiding looking inn''s direction.


    Out on the grass,n was patiently teaching the girls how to fly their kite.


    Joy was about to continue when she noticed Xavier walking back over and immediately dropped the subject.


    Xavier sat down beside Eleanor, cracking open a bottle of sparkling water. "Want to take a stroll on the grass?"


    Eleanor smiled and shook her head. "I''d rather sit here and enjoy the view."


    "Oh,e on," Joy teased, nudging Eleanor up. "You two go stretch your legs- I''ll keep an eye on things here."


    Eleanor realized her legs were indeed a bit numb. She nced at Xavier. "Alright, let''s go."


    Across thewn,n''s gaze flickered toward them-watchful, unreadable.


    Just then, Evelyn and Vivian raced over. Evelyn had spotted the paddle boats on theke and wanted to try them.


    "Mom,e with me! Let''s go!"


    Eleanor crouched down to her daughter''s level. "Sweetie, those boats aren''t safe for kids your age."


    "Daddy... Daddy!" Evelyn turned, immediately trying to win over her father.


    "Listen to your mom,"n replied firmly.


    Evelyn pouted, but Vivian quickly distracted her with the bubble machine again, and the girls ran off to y.


    Xavier seemed to sense thatn wanted to speak with Eleanor alone. "I''ll go check on the kids," he said, walking away.


    Once Xavier was out of earshot,n spoke up. "You still haven''t taken me off your block list?"


    "I forgot," Eleanor replied with a raised eyebrow. Honestly, the moment he mentioned itst time, she''d put it right out of her mind.


    The girls yed to their hearts'' content before finally sitting down to eat. Ian and Xavier each looked after a child, while Eleanor and Joy went for a walk.


    Standing by a sea of wildflowers, Joy watched the two men tending to the kids and shook her head in surprise. "I''ll give them this-both of them really know how to take care of children."