My husband took my stepdaughter to Christmas with his ex and told me I wasn’t her real mother—so I chose myself, walked away, and rebuilt a life they never saw coming.

”

“Good,” Mariana replied, not with cruelty. “Because forgiveness is not the same as access.”

“I know.”

For once, he sounded as though he truly did.

After the call, Mariana went back inside. Camila was placing a crooked candy chimney on the gingerbread house.

“Everything okay?” Camila asked.

Mariana smiled. “Yes.”

“Was Dad sad?”

“A little.”

Camila thought about continue reading …