Chapter 26 - DIANE’S PLACE
Diane became part of Emily’s life slowly.
Birthday cards first.
Then lunches.
Then a museum trip.
She never demanded Mother’s Day.
Never signed:
Mom.
She signed:
Diane.
At twelve, Emily began calling her:
My birth mom Diane.
Claire found that difficult.
She admitted it.
They worked through it.
No fake jealousy villain.
Adoption contains real emotions.
Diane grieved what she did not raise.
Claire feared losing symbolic territory she had earned through every fever and school pickup.
Emily hated feeling responsible for both.
Therapy helped all three stop asking her to balance adults.
By fourteen, Emily sometimes spent an afternoon with Diane alone.
Not custody.
Relationship.
May you like
Frank remained farther away.
That was Emily’s choice.
