On the Way Home from Preschool,
My Daughter Asked If I'd Cry When She Went to the Ocean with 'Her Other Mom and Dad'
When four-year-old Tess mentioned her “other mom,” Piper’s world shifted. Driving home from preschool, Tess spoke of visiting the ocean with “Dad and Mom Lizzie,” who called Piper evil. Shocked but calm, Piper took Tess to her mom Evelyn’s for cookies, then checked the nanny cam, catching Daniel and Lizzie’s intimacy. Silently, Piper gathered evidence, left Tess with Evelyn, and filed for divorce. In a no-fault state, proceedings were swift;
Daniel moved in with Lizzie. At Tess’s birthday party, planned by Lizzie, Piper confronted her calmly, questioning Tess’s view of her. Despite Lizzie’s apology, Piper stayed composed, prioritizing Tess. A girls’ trip to the beach with Evelyn strengthened their bond, where Tess affirmed loving Piper most. Piper cried, finding strength in walking away, keeping herself for Tess, now framed in a photo on the mantle.
