“I woke up this morning so angry. Oh God, it was horrible. I needed to be alone.” She turned to the view. “So I left school, went to the mall. I walked around to the places I used to go with Mom, then I came here, you know, to be with her, to remember, and I tried to think what our lives would be like if she were still alive, still with us, if you never met Emma.”

“Kayla,” Ben couldn’t find the words as she continued.

“Then,” Kayla said, “I thought, what would happen to me if you died?”

That gave Ben pause and he searched the horizon because they knew the cold truth: nothing in this world is guaranteed.

“We have Emma in our lives,” he said.

“I know, and I know you love her and everything, and that she’s a nice person. I like her, Dad, I do, but she’s not my mom.”

“I understand. But look, we’ve talked about this, Kayla. Emma is not replacing Mom. That can never happen. No one will ever replace her.”

“I know but I can’t help feeling this way, Dad.”

Ben’s jawline pulsed with his own frustration. They’d been down this emotional road many times.

“Listen, honey, I understand. You’re going through a hard time. Losing Mom was a terrible thing. There’s nothing bigger. I know that, and your school counselors know that. And Emma knows that. Want me to call Doctor Hirsch, so she can help you sort some of this stuff out?”

“No, I don’t need Doctor Hirsch.”

“Honey, I want you to listen because you need to hear this again. I’ve been married to Emma for more than a year. She’s my wife, she’s your stepmom and she’s part of our family. Your feelings about Mom are important. It’s natural to feel what you’re feeling after losing her. I don’t want you to think of Emma as your mom. But she is my wife, she is in our home, and we need to live as a family.”

“I know, Dad.”

“Maybe you should try talking to Emma about this. She’s a counselor, she knows her stuff and you know she’s had a tragic life, too.”

“But do we really know her, Dad?”

“What?”

“I just have this weird vibe about her, you know?”

“Stop.” Ben let out a long breath and dragged his hands over his face. “Stop this, Kayla. Of course we know her. I know what you’re doing—you’re putting your difficulty to accept her on her, and that’s wrong. Emma is not the problem.”

Kayla looked off, her chin quivering.

“Honey, I know you’re hurting. I understand and I’m so sorry,” Ben said, “but promise me you’ll give Emma a chance. It could help.”

“It’s just hard, Dad.”