That weekend, I decided it was time to have a proper talk with Anna and her daughters.
I sat everyone down in the living room. “Listen,” I began, “this house is supposed to be a safe place for everyone. That means respecting each other’s rooms and belongings. Kate deserves privacy. You do, too. I wouldn’t let her go through your things either. A lock shouldn’t be necessary, but it is—because boundaries have been crossed.”
Mia scoffed. “She thinks she’s better than us.”
“No,” I said firmly. “She just wants her things left alone. Imagine if someone kept stealing your favorite shirt or makeup. You wouldn’t like it either.”
Anna crossed her arms. “Families share.”
“Families also respect each other,” I countered. “If sharing only works one way, that’s not sharing—it’s taking. This isn’t about favorites. This is about fairness.”
The girls rolled their eyes, but I could see the message sinking in. Anna, though, remained silent.
