She wrapped her arms around my waist.
“…will you teach me Grandma’s apple pie recipe?”
I laughed through happy tears.
“I’d love to.”
That weekend, flour covered the counters.
Apple peels littered the sink.
Our pie came out slightly crooked.
Emma declared it perfect anyway.
As we waited for it to cool, she looked up at me.
“I figured something out.”
“What?”
“I don’t need another mom.”
I stayed quiet.
“I just have more people who care about me.”
I kissed the top of her head.
“That’s exactly how it’s supposed to be.”
Looking back, I realized the hardest part wasn’t accepting that someone else could love my daughter.
It was recognizing the difference between adding love to a child’s life and replacing someone who already belongs there.
Children don’t benefit from being asked to choose between the people they love.
They flourish when the adults around them make sure they never have to.