3 months later The Start of Spring

Samanthas POV

Found you, you elusive park you!

The Dakota Park wasn't a people's park like Central Park.. it had walls, it was private. It said so on the Copperplate on the heavy ornate metal gate.

The park was in the shadow of the Dakota building, of course. Totally obvious now! How did Nell find it? And, more importantly, how did she get in? the children are pulling on the gate as I think and it isn't moving.

"Come on let's see if there is another entrance. I backed away, shuffling up the sidewalk and spotted a slightly lower part of the fence. Standing on the little ledge I looked over and discovered magic. Huge trees casting inviting shade, a cute little playground with a cubby house and a huge lawn of lush green grass. Heaven and a safe haven, I thought as I crossed my fingers.

"Here have half a sandwich each, sit on this little ledge" I took the slightly squished sandwich out and halved it for the kids. I swiped it from the meagre breakfast that was supplied at the hostel, I had stopped calling it a refuge, it just made me feel so broken when saying the word.

As they munched and chatted quietly a man in a security uniform strolled past, he didn't notice my gawking at the gate so that was good.

Security man leaned over the top of the gate and took down what appeared to be a rock. But the rock opened, there was a little door on its flat side. He took out a key, undid the gate and while holding it open, replaced the key and rock. Eureka!! I almost started jumping up and down there and then but stayed mute. I didn't want to be a distraction to any uniformed people wandering around.

I walked to the Dakota two days in a row and we sat. I was feeling guilty as I was basically casing the place. I hadn't done anything like this before. I realised the security were a bit hit and miss. They were not really securing the park but just passing through it to maybe a lunchroom or the front entrance, a stroll through and that was it.

***

This is it, the time was right.

"Come on, let's go!"

Stephen and Jasmine hopped up from playing on the sidewalk, their hopscotch outline was left empty.

I grabbed the key, unlocked the gate... and entered the park.

The grounds were lovely, no, better than that, awesome! I took the kids to the far end of the area, away from the building, a hedge was halving the area, making it more secluded that I ever thought possible.

"Go play" I pushed the children, they knew they had to be quiet, well as quiet as two rambunctious children could be.

We would come here every-day from now on.

It felt like my old home where I grew up, a safe space to play in.

Johns POV

"Sean, get your nose off the window!" I don't know what is going on but if the boy pushes his nose any further he will have a shard of glass in his honker!

"Come away and have lunch" I put a plate of sandies on the table and turned to get some water to drink.

"Daddy?"

"Yes Sean"

"Can we please go to the park today- now, and eat lunch"

"Central Park - you know we can't walk through there"

"No, our park down there" Sean was up against the window again, nose pressed hard. "I see other children. See, over there, and there!" Sean pointed out some little dots running around.

"Why not, it's a nice day, I'll..." Sean had galloped to the door jumping up and down. "Sean wait, I'll pack these up!"

"Hurry daddy they may leave" Sean was hopping at the door hanging on to the handle waiting impatiently.

I smiled happily at him but also was feeling guilty; my little fellow was so starved of company.

Hopefully these new tenants will have some nice children for him to play with.