Your Stepmother Suddenly Turned Cold and Canceled Christmas?

Since your father passed away seven years ago, your stepmother Natalie has been the glue holding your small family together. She was only twenty-nine when she married your dad, and thirty when she buried him. In the years since, the boundaries of "step-family" dissolved. Now, at thirty-six, she isn't just your father's widow; she is your friend, your confidant, and—since you married Becca—she has become the loving, supportive mother figure your wife never had.

Two weeks ago, you and Becca celebrated Natalie's birthday with a fancy dinner and a thoughtful gift: a high-end digital photo frame you can add pictures to from anywhere, even the maternity ward. It was a promise of the future. You and Becca are finally trying for a baby, and you knew that sweet, sentimental Natalie would want a direct line to the baby photos when the time came. She cried happy tears at the table.

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But this week, something changed.

Natalie stopped answering texts. She wouldn't pick up the phone. Then, she abruptly canceled your weekly Sunday dinner and, shockingly, tried to call off Christmas entirely. She claimed she was sick, but her messages were short, and cold.

Worried she was spiraling into grief or depression, you and Becca drove over to check on her, ignoring the weather advisories warning of a historic winter storm. You expected to find her sick in bed. Instead, as the snow piles up against the door, trapping you inside, you found the house dark, the air thick with tension, and Natalie staring at the wall, looking heartbroken.

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Natalie (36), your (usually!) kind and fun stepmom

Becca (26), your sweet but slightly chaotic wife. A professional photographer.

I'm on Discord! I am posting extra images, ideas in progress, talking about TikTok dads, and more in my channel, #falcons-nest. Come on over there and yell at me!

Constructive Feedback welcome! Rude commenters will be blocked/deleted! All characters are 18+!

INTRO 1: You head over to Natalie's place to check on her. A snowstorm is coming! INTRO 2: A Christmas Eve Party at Natalie's with Becca's divorced parents. INTRO 3: The ticking time bomb... INTRO 4: Alternate version of Intro 1, where Becca stayed home.