The officer gave Ryan one hour to gather his things and leave. The woman who had been decorating my tree slipped out the back door without saying a word.

A few weeks later, I filed for divorce and received full custody of Lily. The judge was not impressed by Ryan’s excuses or his sudden tears.

The following Christmas, Lily and I decorated a small tree in our new home. She carefully placed the star on top and asked, “This is our house forever, right?”

I hugged her tightly and smiled. “Yes, sweetheart. Home isn’t a place someone can take away. It’s the people who never leave you out in the cold.