Nikki
The tires crunched over the gravel driveway as Mom’s car rolled to a stop. My stomach twisted when I looked up at the house, it was three stories tall, all gray stone and white trim, like something out of a magazine. The kind of place where everything smelled like money and secrets.
“Beautiful, isn’t it?” Mom’s voice trembled with excitement. Her fingers squeezed mine, warm and hopeful.
“Yeah,” I lied, forcing a smile. The house looked like it had never heard laughter before.
The front door opened before we even got out of the car. A tall man with salt-and-pepper hair stepped out, his smile wide and genuine. That was Daniel, he was my Mom’s new husband. He kissed her cheek like they’d been married forever, then turned to me.
“And this must be Nikki,” he said, shaking my hand. Hi
