There were supervised visits, then phone calls, birthdays, and eventually weekends.
I made one thing clear.
I wasn’t replacing Emma.
And Emma wasn’t competing with me.
Luke had spent years believing family meant choosing one person over another.
Months later, I found Luke outside repairing the porch step again.
He needed to learn there could be room for both.
Months later, I found Luke outside repairing the porch step again.
Emma sat beside him criticizing everything.
“You’re holding it wrong.”
“You’ve never held a hammer.”
Emma reached for the hammer.
“I’ve seen people do it.”
“On television?”
“Still counts.”
I carried out lemonade.
Emma reached for the hammer.
“Because I enjoy having all ten of your fingers attached.”
Luke pulled it away.
“Absolutely not.”
“Why?”
“Because I enjoy having all ten of your fingers attached.”
“I know how to use it.”
“Mom, please tell her she’s not touching this.”
