Tommy's call, it turned out, was merely ceremonial. Ms. Chen, practical and decisive as always, had already secured their dream home before heading back to pack. The mansion they'd chosen wasn't just impressive; it dwarfed the one I'd bought for Mom, sprawling and modern, nestled only two exclusive residences away from ours.
Their choice spoke volumes: Tommy and his mom didn't just want proximity; they needed it.
The unspoken truth settled over me warm and solid—our families were entwined, roots growing deep and tangled together in a way that could never be cleanly severed. And that… that made me profoundly happy. It was a connection I wouldn't, couldn't, unshackle myself from.
Ms. Chen was my other mother—a steady anchor, my third maternal figure after my lost birth mother and Linda. And Tommy? He wasn't just a friend; he was the brother destiny had forgotten to give me.
