Replacement Daughter, Part 3

Yay! You all chose "Replacement Daughter" by a pretty large margin. So let's see how Jordan is fairing these days in her new role... 😀

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Life with my daughter was going wonderfully. Sure, I had to beat the boys away with a stick, but honestly, that’s part of the fun of having a gorgeous daughter. After two years of hard work, I was ecstatic with how well Jordan had become Ashley. Life was wonderful. Then the unimaginable happened. 

Ashley came back.

When I saw her walk through the door, tears sprang to my eyes. It was like seeing a ghost! Sure, they’d never found her body, but the police long believed she’d been the victim of foul play.

“Ash,” I said, hugging her. “Oh my God, where have you been?”

“I’m sorry, mom. I had to get away. You were just too suffocating. And I couldn’t say anything because I knew you’d follow me. But, well, I’ve decided I’m old enough and strong enough to stand up to you when it counts. So I’m back.”

Suddenly, I heard a gasp. Both Ashley and I turned to see the other Ashley standing in the hall, half-dressed.

“Oh, my god,” squeaked the Ashley formerly known as Jordan.

“Who the fuck are you?” Ashley demanded.

“This is...” I fumbled. “Ashley, I thought he killed you.”

Ashley shook her head. “Who? What’s going on?”

Jordan’s lip was trembling. He tried covering his breasts. “It’s me,” he said. “Jordan.”

Ashley’s eyes went wide. “My old boyfriend!?”

Jordan nodded sadly, then ran off into his bedroom. Ashley looked at me with wide eyes. “Jesus, you turned my boyfriend into some kind of…replacement for me? You’re sick!”

“Ash, please—” I tried to grab for her, but she ran back the way Jordan had come. I followed, hoping to explain myself somehow. 

We found Jordan sobbing in his bedroom, half-dressed. “I’m so, so, so glad you’re alive, Ashley. But I’m also so humiliated. Look at me! I’m a…a… I’m a girl! Oh God. What are we going to do?”

She took his hand, then glared back at me. “First thing, let’s get away from her.”

They retreated outside. I followed, but we have acres of property, and they’re young and spry. Eventually, I lost track of them, but I kept searching. 

After about an hour, I found them standing on the bridge over our little creek. I don’t know what they’d been doing, but neither of them had clothes on, and they both looked embarrassed. Ashley was a lot skinnier than she used to be - I must get that girl to eat!

I stayed hidden in the bushes to eavesdrop.

“well, I guess that didn’t work,” Jordan said.

“Yeah, I didn’t realize she’d changed you... everywhere. My god, Jordan, I’m so sorry. if I’d had any idea she’d do something like this, I never would’ve left.”

“I’m glad you left.”

“You are?”

“Well, you’ve matured into an amazing young woman. And I... well...” Jordan bit his lip. “I really hated mom—I mean, your mom—for a long time. But now... I don’t know, maybe it’s because I have a vagina now, or the hormones, but I kind of like being a girl.”

“Really?” Ashley said. “So you don’t hate me because of what happened?”

Jordan shook his head. “but what happens now? there can’t be two Ashley’s.”

“No...” Ashley said. “but Jordan can be a girl’s name, too. and I’ve always wanted a kid sister.”

Jordan grinned. “hey, I’m older than you!”

“Not in girl years,” Ashley replied. 

My eyes brimmed with tears. Ashley was back, and now instead of losing one daughter, I’d gained two. Life was wonderful again!