s his,” Tessa finished off.

“Tessa didn’t know I existed until Amanda saw that family photo. Not until recently.”

“Until recently?” I whispered.

I felt dizzy, the edges of the world blurring.

“So, Nathan’s dating his sister,” I asked.

Tessa put her hand over her mouth, and Jason reached for my hand, his touch gentle and comforting now that I knew he wasn’t having an affair.

“We’re going to tell him tonight. I wanted to talk to you first, Lily, but you saw us here before I could. We just wanted to get our story straight first.”

I sank into a chair, finally.

I couldn’t speak; I could barely breathe. For years, Jason and I had been inseparable, sharing everything. And now this?

This felt like an impossible nightmare that I couldn’t comprehend.

But.

If I was being honest, this didn’t really change things.

It did, but it didn’t.

Because.

I couldn’t have children myself, so both Nathan and Sophie were adopted as babies and raised as our own. There was no biological connection between Tessa and Nathan.

But I knew this would still break my son’s heart. My mind raced through all the horrible scenarios that could unfold.

The heartbreak Nathan would feel, and the chaos that this could cause for our family. But looking at Tessa, I saw her pain and confusion, a young woman caught in a secret she hadn’t chosen.

“I’m sorry, Lily,” Jason whispered. “I’m so, so sorry.

We didn’t mean for this to happen.”

That night, we gathered as a family in our living room, the gravity of the moment pulling the air tight around us.

I watched as Jason and Tessa shared the truth with Nathan, watching as his face shifted from confusion to shock.

He sat silently, staring at Tessa, his fiancée, the woman he planned to marry.

“You’re my sister?” Nathan asked, his voice hollow.

“In theory, Nate!” Jason chimed in. “Remember, you’re adopted, son. There is no connection biologically.

We’re just so sorry that you both had to endure this. Especially at the beginning of your lives together…”

“How long have you known?” Nathan asked, ignoring Jason.

“Two weeks. Since my mother agreed to me coming over for the weekend,” she said.

The pain and conflict in my son’s face were almost too much to bear, but slowly, he took a breath, running his hand over his face.

I just focused on the peace lily on the coffee table.

“I need time, Tessa,” he said. “This is a lot.”

But he held Tessa’s hand, squeezing it gently as though to assure her that, somehow, they would get through it together.

Later that night, I sat on the porch, trying to wrap my thoughts around everything. I know that nothing between Jason and me changed, well, not really.

I still think he should have told me, but he hadn’t contacted Tessa’s mother.

So, how was he to know?

But what about Nathan and Tessa now?

“Mom?” Nathan asked from behind me. “Can I sit with you?”

“Of course, you can,” I said, scooting over.

“What do I do?” he asked. “I mean, really?”

“Does this change anything?” I asked.

“Ask yourself honestly.”

“No,” he said quietly. “It should, shouldn’t it? But it doesn’t.

Tessa only knows who Dad is, but she doesn’t know anything about him. Not really. They’re basically strangers.

But we’re in love and happy.”

“Then fight for your fairytale, son,” I said. “I just want you to know that I’ll support you through all of this. It’s not Tessa’s fault either.”

“You know, I never thought I’d say this,” Nathan said, looking amused.

“But thank God I’m adopted!”

He started laughing, and before I knew it, I was laughing along with him.

In the weeks that followed, Nathan and Tessa chose to stay together despite everything, deciding that the bond they’d built wasn’t something they wanted to lose.

And as their wedding approached, I saw something new in Jason. There was a deeper gratitude for a daughter he’d never known and an even greater love for Sophie, who he started giving more attention to.

Now, I’m a stepmom and mother-in-law to Tessa, which isn’t as wild as it sounds. But one thing is for sure: that sweet girl completes this family.

What would you have done?

Source: amomama