Chapter 7 - The Twins Asked Me Why Their Father Had Chosen Another Woman, and I Refused to Lie to Protect HimChildren deserve truth.
Not all of it at once.
But enough.
One night, Emma asked:
“Mommy?”
“Yes?”
“Why did Daddy marry Tessa?”
I froze.
Garrett was in the room.
He looked at me.
I could have lied.
Instead, I said:
“Because adults sometimes make choices they regret.”
“Did Dad love her?”
Garrett answered.
“No.”
Emma looked at him.
“Then why?”
He swallowed.
“Because I was wrong.”
“About Mommy?”
“Yes.”
Emma frowned.
“Was Mommy poor?”
Garrett's face tightened.
“That doesn't matter.”
She stared.
He continued:
“Your mother was never less because she had less money.”
I smiled.
That was progress.
Finn asked:
“Why did people call Mom broke?”
Garrett looked at me.
“Because they wanted to make her feel small.”
“Did it work?”
I answered honestly.
“Sometimes.”
The boys thought about it.
Then Theo said:
“I don't think Mom is small.”
Garrett laughed.
“Neither do I.”
That night, after the boys slept, Garrett and I sat outside.
“You handled that well.”
“I didn't want to lie.”
“Thank you.”
“For what?”
“For letting them know I was wrong.”
He sighed.
“I was.”
I reached for his hand.
Not yet romance.
May you like
Just comfort.
Maybe someday.
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