I think he really doesn't want to go 'there' in his mind. If he allows himself to do that then he has to think he may never see Lucas alive again. I think all parents/family members hold onto hope until all hope is gone.
Abusers are so cunning and manipulative. he was going to throw her clothes out on the street one time I bet it was a heated argument over her abusing Lucas. Like most DV abusers she could have promised him it would never ever happen again if he just stayed with her. So many DV victims do believe the BS abusers put out unfortunately.
No one has said he didn't love Lucas and I believe he truly loves him very much and is hurting so badly about all of this. He has to have deep guilt of what he should have done about the situation earlier when he decided to let her stay.
As far as her not being the legal stepmom that isn't even relevant to me... although I did read in this state common law marriages are recognized. So many couples are deciding to live together now rather than get married, but most of them do willingly take on the full responsibility of taking care of any children in the home... no matter if the children belongs to the male or its the female's children or both. So legalities doesn't matter to me. She was the stepmom Lucas was so afraid of and so many children face the worst enemy they will ever face when they are inside of their own homes. I have no doubt she abused Lucas when she knew JH was gone for some length of time with his job. He would be at her mercy when he was all alone with her and she had no mercy on him as we have seen.
What matters most to me is she was suppose to be a loving caregiver to all of the children that lived with them including precious Lucas. I am sure she was on the contact list at school as one who was able to pick Lucas up. People from the area may not have even known Lucas wasn't her biological child. She resided with JH as a family unit. She had just as much responsibility to take care of all the children in their relationship just like JH does.
While I would personally never raise my children in my home with someone I wasn't married to .....I do not judge others who makes the choice to be unmarried. I have seen several of these types of relationships and both are very attentive/caring, and are raising blended children in their family as if all of them are their own.
There are countless good, loving, moral, and caring stepmoms, and stepdads who choose to be parents of children they love deeply. Love does not come from the bloodline any way. Love always comes straight from the heart. Imo, it has nothing to do with DNA or the blood flowing through a child;s veins. Love is a powerful emotion given to us by God and can encompass everyone and anyone no matter who they may be.
It is so sad these kind of step-monster parents make all stepparents look bad when the truth is there are far more good ones than bad who are constantly making a positive difference in all of these children's lives each and every day.
I know plenty of children that have much more love, and respect/bond for their stepdad or stepmom than they do their own bio parents.
I just wish little Lucas had had one of those amazing stepmoms instead of one who was so mean/cruel, who only wanted to hurt him... instead of giving him an abundance of love like he so richly deserves.
IMO
