A New Family's Love

As they walked into the casual restaurant, Ashley's eyes widened at the variety of options on the menu. The aroma of freshly baked pizza crust and melting cheese wafted through the air, making her stomach growl with hunger. Ben and Emily were already perusing the menu, their faces lighting up with excitement. "I'm getting fries pizza and a milkshake!" Ben announced, not looking up from the menu. "Me too!" Emily chimed in, her eyes scanning the toppings. "But I want to try the new flavor, strawberry cheesecake!" Karen smiled, her eyes turning to Ashley. "What about you, sweetie? What do you want?" Ashley panicked, feeling like she was being put on the spot. "Oh, I'm ok, really," she said, trying to brush it off with a smile. Karen's expression softened, and she smiled back at Ashley. "Have something, please. You must be starving after being at the facility for so long." Ashley's eyes darted around the menu, feeling overwhelmed. "Oh, uh, just a vanilla shake, please," she said, looking down at her feet. Ben, who had been quietly observing the exchange, suddenly stood up. "You know, Ashley, you're going to need some new clothes. We can't have you walking around in those hand-me-downs from the facility." Ashley looked down at her worn jeans and faded t-shirt, feeling a twinge of embarrassment. She shrugged, trying to play it off. "I don't mind. I'm used to it." Karen's expression turned gentle, and she reached out to gently touch Ashley's arm. "We want to get you some new things, sweetie. You deserve it. We'll take you shopping later, okay?" Ashley nodded, feeling a mix of emotions. She wasn't used to people being so kind to her, and it was taking some getting used to. But as she looked around at her new family, she felt a small sense of hope rising up. Maybe, just maybe, this was the start of something good.