My Grandson’s Fiancée Told My Five-Year-Old Granddaughter There Was No Room for Her in the Family Photos — But My Speech Made the Entire Room Fall Silent – Page 7

I was afraid — she continued. — I know that doesn’t excuse me.

She admitted that she had felt like an outsider.

Photographs of Phoebe still hung in Emmett’s house.

Her mother’s name often came up in stories about Margot.

Claire had begun to see the deceased woman as a rival, even though there had never been any competition.

— I allowed my fears to hurt a child — she said quietly.

svgPregnancy and Motherhood

— Yes.

— How can I fix this?

— Apologize to Margot.

— What if she doesn’t forgive me?

— Give her time.

I leaned forward.

— Sit beside her. Look her in the eyes. Admit that you were wrong. Don’t make excuses about the wedding or being upset. Just apologize.

Claire nodded.

svgPeople and Society

Then she looked at Margot.

— She’s wonderful.

— Yes.

— She has Phoebe’s eyes.

I smiled.

— Everyone notices that.

Claire was silent for a moment.

— I want to be a good

person in her life.

— Then show it through your actions.

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She looked at me.

— I don’t know if I should be a mother to her.

— She doesn’t have to call you Mom. She just needs to feel that there is an adult beside her who accepts her.

Claire looked at Margot again.

— Will you tell me about Phoebe?

Her question surprised me.

— I don’t want to compete with her — Claire said. — But she was her mother. If I want to be part of Margot’s life, I need to know what she was like.

And I began to tell her.

About Phoebe’s personality.

About her habits.

About the way she noticed people.

About how much she laughed.

— She probably would have asked me a million questions — Claire said.

— Without a doubt.

— And if she liked what I was doing for Emmett and Margot?

— Then she would have become your defender.

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