Four years ago, she was a single mother of two, living in a modest three-bedroom house in suburban Ohio. Her life was full—school pickups, dinner prep, dance recitals—but her heart still had space. When she met Derek at a mutual friend’s barbecue, she hadn’t expected much. But over time, their connection deepened, and so did the logistics of merging their lives.

Derek had a daughter, Kayla, from a previous relationship. At the time, Kayla was ten—sweet, quiet, and somewhat distant. Nicole met her on a rainy Saturday afternoon over pizza and board games. The girl barely spoke.