I came home to find Estelle on her knees beside shattered dishes while Lenette shielded her from Lorna.
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Chapter 23 / 27
Chapter 23 - CONRAD WITHOUT A FIANCÉE
I dated again at forty-six.
Very badly.
Estelle graded people.
Unfairly.
One woman chewed loudly.
Rejected.
Another called hotel staff “the help.”
Rejected by me first.
Eventually I met Mara Collins.
Architect.
Divorced.
No interest in family companies.
She met Estelle before our fifth date because Estelle walked downstairs unexpectedly in dinosaur pajamas.
Mara said:
“Great pants.”
Estelle corrected:
“Pajamas.”
Relationship survived.
We married three years later.
Small ceremony.
Estelle stood beside me.
No stepmother adoption.
No replacement Amelia.
Mara asked Estelle directly:
“What do you want to call me?”
“Mara.”
“Perfect.”
Years later:
Bonus Mom.
Once.
May you like
Mara cried privately.
No title demanded.
