When Laura arrives to pick up her daughter from her Dad’s place, she’s startled by a loud scream echoing through the air. Rushing inside, she finds her daughter on the floor, with Katie, her stepmother, standing over her, holding a broom. What could be happening here?
My ex-husband, Noah, and I parted ways long ago. Now, he’s married to Katie, and we co-parent our daughter, Lexie, trying to maintain a drama-free environment for her.
The routine of co-parenting with Noah had become second nature – one week with me, followed by one with him. Fortunately, Katie had seamlessly integrated herself into Lexie’s life, despite the initial discomfort I felt. “Katie’s like a second mother to Lex,” Noah once said, emphasizing that she wasn’t a replacement for me. And I was okay with that. It was better to have Katie, who cared for both Noah and Lexie, than someone who only wanted him.
Approaching Noah’s house to pick up Lexie, I anticipated the usual polite exchange with Katie, who often tried my recipes to make Lexie feel at home. Though I still felt awkward around her, we were making an effort for Lexie’s sake.
As I reached the front porch lost in thought, I noticed the door was slightly ajar and pushed it open, only to be greeted by a blood-curdling scream – Lexie’s scream. Panic surged through me, propelling me inside without a second thought.
Racing through the house, I found myself in the kitchen, where Katie stood with a broom above my daughter. “Lexie?” I exclaimed, bewildered. “What’s happening?!”
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