“Do you want to go?” I asked Lily on the phone, hoping she would say yes.
A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
A smiling woman | Source: Midjourney
“Of course!” she called down the phone, her excitement palpable. “I’d love to go with you, Barbara.”
I picked her up and spent the rest of the day watching the light in Lily’s eyes as she realized this lesson could be a step toward her future.
“Thank you,” she said as we stopped at a restaurant on the way home. And I'm not talking about waffles. I mean everything! I love my grandparents. But I missed the role of a mother in my life. I know we've only known each other for a few months, but I'm truly thrilled that you're in my life.
Waffles and ice cream on the table | Source: Midjourney
Waffles and ice cream on the table | Source: Midjourney
I pushed my plate of fries over to her. She had the same strange habit as Mark: dipping fries in the vanilla ice cream of waffles or milkshakes.
And through all of this, I realized I wasn't angry with Mark. If I couldn't spend more time with my child because of my current situation, my heart would shatter.
A plate of fries | Source: Midjourney
A plate of fries | Source: Midjourney
But now I haven't just gained a stepdaughter. I've gained a piece of Mark that I didn't know I needed.
Sometimes grief feels like the end of a story. But that morning, with a dusty safe, I learned it could also be the beginning of something new.
A Laughing Woman | Source: Midjourney
A Laughing Woman | Source: Midjourney
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