“Strict?” Her shoulders slumped. “I wanted her to be more independent. I’ll never replace Maris, and I don’t try to. I just… wanted to be a good mom, but I messed up, didn’t I?”
“You don’t have to be perfect,” I said softly. “You just have to be there.”
“I keep thinking of my mother,” Elowyn confessed. “Everything had to be perfect with her. While working on this room, I caught myself acting like her. I forgot what Arden needs most is just… everyday love.”
The next evening, we brought Arden upstairs. She hesitated at first, peeking from behind me, but curiosity won. When she saw the room, her mouth formed a perfect “O.”
“Is this… for me?” she whispered.
Elowyn nodded. “All of it. And I promise, from now on, we’ll clean your room together, and maybe… share some ice cream while we read?”
Arden stared for a moment, then flung herself into Elowyn’s arms. “Thank you, new mommy. I love it.”
“Can we have tea parties here?” Arden asked, already heading to the table. “With real tea?”
“Hot cocoa,” Elowyn laughed. “And lots of cookies.”
That night, as I tucked Arden in, she whispered, “New mom isn’t scary. She’s nice.”
