Chapter 6 - LILY ASKED WHY VANESSA HATED HER MOTHER
At nine, Lily asked.
We had told age appropriate.
Then:
“Did Grandma Vanessa hate Mommy Emma?”
Daniel answered.
“She disliked some things your mom did.”
“What?”
“She told people no.”
Lily frowned.
“That's it?”
Sometimes.
Emma had blocked family access to trust.
Questioned bills.
Protected Lily.
Vanessa saw as rejection.
Then:
“Did she hate me because I look like Mom?”
Daniel paused.
“Partly, I think.”
Lily absorbed.
Then:
“That's dumb.”
Yes.
Then she asked me:
“Are you my mom?”
I said:
“I’m Claire.”
She rolled eyes.
“I know.”
Then:
“Do you want to be my mom?”
Careful.
“I want to be someone safe who loves you.”
Then:
“You already have a mom.”
Emma.
Lily smiled.
Later, at twelve, she asked if she could call me Mom too.
I cried.
But said:
“If you want.”
Choice.
No replacement.
That became opposite of Vanessa.
Then Daniel’s relationship with Vanessa.
Protective order/terms during case.
Later limited.
She eventually apologized to Daniel.
He said:
“I forgive you as my stepmother.”
Then:
“You do not regain authority over Lily.”
Permanent.
Then she asked about holidays.
Only if Lily wanted, much later.
At fifteen, Lily chose not.
May you like
At eighteen, maybe one mediated meeting.
Boundaries.
