“Mom, are you sure? I heard what Dad said. I don’t want to cause problems.”
I sat beside her, smoothing her hair.
“You’re not causing problems, sweetheart. This necklace is yours, and it always has been. Don’t let anyone make you feel bad about that.”
She hugged me tightly, and for the first time in weeks, I felt like I could breathe again.
Over time, Joey softened.
The weeks of tension had given way to quiet apologies, first in small actions — a cup of coffee brought to me in the morning, his hand lingering on my shoulder — and then in words.
“You were right,” he admitted one evening as we sat on the couch. “I was out of line. I let my pride get in the way.”
I nodded, not trusting myself to speak.
“And for what it’s worth,” he added, “you’re a great stepmom.”
It was a start, but I didn’t let myself relax completely.
Trust, I knew, would take time to rebuild.
Sophia, for her part, loved her necklace. She wore it constantly, showing it off to her friends and thanking me at least a dozen times. It wasn’t the heirloom, but it was hers, and that was enough.
As for Emily, her birthday came and went in a flurry of celebrations.
When I fastened the heirloom necklace around her neck, her smile was radiant, her eyes filled with pride.
“It’s perfect,” she whispered. “Thank you, Mom.”
At that moment, I knew I’d made the right choice. Tradition, love, and promises — all intact.
What would you have done differently if you were in my place?
