I remembered Zach touching it, examining the stitching, and making me feel ashamed of three nights’ work.
But Emma had never seen that dress as something I’d made because I couldn’t afford better.
She’d seen it as something made especially for her.
And I finally understood something I’d been struggling to believe since Zach left.
I didn’t have to prove I could give Emma more than he could.
I had to give her a home where she never felt she had to earn her place, hide what she needed, or protect me from being disappointed.
That was something no expensive costume could replace.
Would you let your child decide between a handmade gift and an expensive one, even if you knew your ex was deliberately trying to undermine you?
Enjoyed this story? Here’s another one for you: I thought feeding a struggling deliveryman and helping his daughter would end with a simple thank-you. Instead, strangers began arriving – and something from my past came with them.
