Chapter 7 - THE WOMAN ELI CALLED “MOM”Naomi first saw Tessa’s name glowing across Eli’s screen by accident.
MOM CALLING
Eli was showering.
Phone vibrated on kitchen counter.
Naomi didn’t touch.
It stopped.
Then message:
I miss you. Call when you can.
Naomi stood frozen.
She felt something she disliked admitting.
Jealousy.
Not romantic.
Maternal.
For three years Naomi had learned Eli’s habits.
He hated tomatoes.
Needed fan on to sleep.
Pretended he didn’t care birthdays but checked cake flavor.
Called from nurse’s office for Naomi twice before calling Graham because she answered faster.
Yet phone said MOM.
And Naomi would never.
That was correct.
Still hurt.
When Graham came home, she told.
He turned pale.
He eventually admitted Tessa contacted.
Naomi’s anger at secrecy became complicated by her own feelings.
Later that week, Tessa and Naomi met at therapist’s office.
Eli not present.
Tessa looked Naomi up and down.
“Cream sweater.”
Naomi frowned.
“What?”
“Eli said you always wear neutral colors.”
Naomi almost laughed.
“He notices.”
Tessa’s eyes filled.
“Apparently.”
Awkward.
Graham sat between physically until therapist asked him move.
Dr. Cole:
“Why are we here?”
Tessa:
“To see my son without Graham controlling.”
Graham:
“To make sure contact safe.”
Naomi:
“To stop being middle.”
Good.
Tessa looked at Naomi.
“Did you hit Eli?”
“Yes.”
No excuse.
“Why?”
“I lost temper during argument over cigarette.”
Tessa stared.
“You don’t hit my son.”
Naomi swallowed.
“You are right.”
Tessa had expected fight.
“That's it?”
“No.”
“I apologized.”
“I’m in counseling.”
“It won’t happen again.”
Tessa’s anger remained but footing shifted.
Then Naomi:
“You are also telling him I’m trying replace you.”
Tessa stiffened.
“I said you play mother.”
“Different?”
“You live there.”
“I am his stepmother.”
“He calls you for things.”
“Because I’m there.”
That hurt.
Tessa:
“Exactly.”
Silence.
Naomi realized.
This was grief.
Not only manipulation.
Tessa missed years.
She saw Naomi occupying space.
Naomi said:
“I don’t want your title.”
Tessa laughed bitterly.
“Easy for you. You have the life.”
Naomi:
“You think I got handed easy life with teenager who tells me I’m nobody every time I enforce curfew?”
Tessa almost smiled despite.
Then:
“I lost him.”
Naomi softened.
“You lost time.”
Tessa wiped eyes.
“I know.”
“And you’re trying get it back through making me enemy.”
Tessa looked.
Maybe.
She had told Eli:
Naomi doesn't want me around.
Naomi wants family perfect.
Naomi will be threatened.
Some based fear, not fact.
Graham admitted he mentioned Naomi might struggle. Tessa turned into certainty.
Everyone triangulated.
Therapist wrote on board:
DIRECT COMMUNICATION
No messages through Eli.
No using child to carry adult narratives.
No secret visits.
No speaking negatively of another caregiver.
Tessa agreed reluctantly.
Naomi agreed.
Graham agreed.
Eli learned later.
He hated.
“So everyone gets rules but me?”
“You especially,” Graham said.
Eli rolled eyes.
But.
The woman he called Mom remained Mom.
Naomi had to accept.
The woman who did homework remained Naomi.
Tessa had to accept.
Eli could have both without choosing.
That became goal.
But teenage loyalty often demands side.
May you like
And someone outside family was feeding exactly that.
Bryce.
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