Chapter 17 - TESSA WASN’T THE MONSTER EITHERTessa’s apartment in Worcester was small but stable.
Eli visited approved weekend.
His first overnight with mother in years.
Graham nearly canceled three times.
Naomi stopped.
“She has been assessed.”
“I know.”
“Then let.”
He did.
Tessa prepared too hard.
Favorite snacks from age nine.
Movie he no longer liked.
Blue sheets.
Eli noticed.
“You think I’m ten.”
Tessa laughed then cried.
“I missed updates.”
That hurt both.
They spent Saturday alone, no Cole.
Tessa told her side.
Without making Graham monster.
Finally.
“Your dad was controlling.”
Eli:
“He said.”
“I was unreliable.”
“He said.”
“I hated him for being better at adult life.”
Eli laughed.
“Dad?”
“He had house, insurance, calendars.”
“That’s not better.”
“At twenty-seven it felt.”
Tessa:
“I was ashamed every time I missed.”
“Then shame made me avoid calling.”
“Which made worse.”
“Why not just call?”
“I wish I had fourteen-year-old brain that thinks hard things simple.”
He rolled eyes.
“Adult excuse.”
“Fair.”
Then:
“I left because I couldn’t stay in relationship.”
“I did not leave because I didn't love you.”
Eli:
“But you left me with him.”
“Yes.”
“That’s leaving.”
Tessa cried.
“Yes.”
No word games.
“I thought temporary.”
“Then life got away.”
“Then I was embarrassed.”
“Then Graham didn’t trust.”
“Then years.”
Eli’s tears.
“You should’ve fought.”
“I should.”
“I hate you sometimes.”
Tessa nodded.
“You’re allowed.”
He looked shocked.
“Really?”
“Yes.”
“I hate myself sometimes too.”
They hugged.
Later Cole came for dinner briefly.
He apologized cigarette environment.
“No excuses.”
Eli:
“Bryce gave.”
“I know.”
“I should've known better.”
Cole didn't try be cool.
Better.
Tessa and Eli rebuilt not by villainizing.
Slow.
At night Eli texted Naomi:
Mom’s place is okay.
Naomi:
Good. Have fun.
He stared.
No jealousy.
Tessa saw.
“She text?”
“Naomi.”
“What she say?”
He showed.
Tessa's face softened.
“Good.”
Then quietly:
“I was wrong about some things.”
Eli:
“Like?”
“Her wanting me gone.”
Eli nodded.
This mattered.
The biological mother wasn't monster.
The stepmother wasn't monster.
The father wasn't.
May you like
Teen not.
Drama survived because mistakes real.
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