**Chapter 2: New Beginnings**

The next morning, Joel woke up early, feeling a sense of excitement and nervousness. He had agreed to hire Mila as a babysitter for Sarah, and he was eager to see how their new arrangement would work. As he got dressed and headed to the kitchen, he heard the sound of Mila's voice carrying through the open window. She was chatting with Sarah, who was giggling and playing with her dolls on the porch. Joel smiled to himself as he poured himself a cup of coffee. It seemed like Mila was already winning Sarah over. He took a sip of his coffee and walked out into the backyard, where Mila was busy getting Sarah ready for the day. "Morning, Joel," Mila said, smiling up at him. "I was just getting Sarah dressed and ready for breakfast." Joel nodded, feeling a sense of relief wash over him. "Thanks, Mila. I appreciate it." As he headed out the door to start his day at work, Joel couldn't help but feel a sense of gratitude towards Mila. She was already making his life easier, and he knew that Sarah was in good hands. The day flew by quickly, and Joel found himself thinking about Mila and Sarah more often than he should. He wondered what they were up to, and whether Mila was having any trouble with his energetic daughter. When he got home from work, Joel was greeted by the sight of Mila and Sarah playing in the backyard. They were laughing and having a great time, and Joel felt a pang of happiness in his chest. "Hey, how was your day?" Mila asked, as Joel walked over to join them. "It was good," Joel replied, smiling at Sarah. "How about you? Did you survive the day with my little monster?" Mila laughed. "Barely," she joked. "But seriously, Sarah is a great kid. We had a lot of fun today." As they chatted, Joel noticed that Mila seemed to be getting more and more comfortable in their home. She was moving around freely, and Sarah was clearly enjoying her company. Over the next few days, Joel grew more and more accustomed to having Mila around. She was a natural with Sarah, and he found himself feeling more and more at ease in her presence. One evening, as he was putting Sarah to bed, Joel mentioned to Mila that he was planning to take her out for dinner as a thank you for all her help. Mila's face lit up with excitement. "That sounds lovely," she said. "But only if Sarah can come too." Joel smiled, feeling a sense of warmth towards Mila. "Of course," he said. "The more the merrier." As the three of them sat down to dinner at a nearby restaurant, Joel couldn't help but feel a sense of hope. Maybe, just maybe, he was starting to find a new sense of normalcy in his life. And maybe, just maybe, Mila was going to be a big part of it. As they finished their meal and headed back home, Joel noticed that Mila seemed a little quieter than usual. He asked her if everything was okay, and she hesitated before speaking. "There's just something I need to tell you," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "Something that might change things between us." Joel's heart skipped a beat as he wondered what Mila was going to say. Was she leaving? Was she in trouble? He couldn't help but feel a sense of trepidation as he waited for her to continue.