Chapter 22 - THOMASIN STOPS BEING THE REPLACEMENT
Thomasin’s name disappeared from daily life.
Not because we erased her.
Because relationship ended.
No wedding planning.
No engagement portrait.
No calls.
No photo debates.
Lowri stopped asking whether Thomasin would return.
Then one day she asked:
“Was Thomasin going to be my mom?”
“No.”
“But Grandma said.”
“Grandma was wrong.”
“If you married?”
“She would have been my wife and your stepmother.”
“Same?”
“No.”
She frowned.
“Explain.”
“A stepmother can love you and help care for you. She does not replace Mommy.”
“Then why replacement?”
“Adults used a bad word.”
She nodded.
“Really bad.”
“Yes.”
Then:
“Can good stepmom keep Mommy picture?”
“Yes.”
“Okay.”
That was all.
The concept corrected.
Then I realized how much damage came from one framing:
replacement.
If we had said:
addition.
New relationship.
Different role.
Maybe Thomasin’s insecurity still existed.
But the battle lines would have been different.
Then I packed away the giant engagement portrait remnants.
Not kept.
Glass destroyed.
Photo itself torn by impact but recoverable.
I did not need it.
Thomasin received digital copy.
No symbolism.
Just cleanup.
Then my counselor asked:
“Are you dating?”
“No.”
“Are you avoiding?”
“Maybe.”
“Because Lowri?”
“Partly.”
There.
Another burden.
I started with coffee.
One woman from work? Too soon and unnecessary. We don't need introduce romance late.
May you like
Instead I allowed myself to imagine future without deciding.
Enough.
