Every Sunday at 5 p.m., Josh would return from his mother\u2019s house. As he walked through the door, he would kick off his shoes and retreat to his room, a noticeable shift from the cheerful, curious ten-year-old I had grown close to. Instead of the energetic child I knew, there was a more withdrawn and irritable boy. I noticed it every time, but as his stepmother, I wasn\u2019t sure how far I could go in offering help. Josh had always been kind and affectionate with me, yet I was unsure of how to navigate the situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
One evening, while Patrick and I chopped vegetables for dinner, I couldn\u2019t shake the concern. \u201cDo you think he\u2019s okay?\u201d I asked.\u201cHe\u2019s probably fine,\u201d Patrick replied, trying to reassure me. \u201cLinda can be intense. Maybe she lectured him again.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cBut I lecture him too,\u201d I pointed out. \u201cHe jokes about it. This is different.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cIf you\u2019re that worried, just talk to him,\u201d Patrick said. \u201cI\u2019ll check in with him later too.\u201dSince Josh had moved in with us, there had been a clear change. At first, he was full of life, always excited to share stories and spend time with me in the kitchen. But over time, we had to coax him out of his shell after every visit to Linda. We tried everything\u2014cooking his favorite meals, playing games, and planning special movie nights\u2014but nothing seemed to lift his spirits.After dinner, Patrick attempted to have a conversation with Josh. I stayed in the kitchen, pretending to clean while listening. \u201cIt\u2019s just\u2026 draining, being there,\u201d Josh confessed. \u201cBut I know it\u2019s important to spend time with Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Patrick offered to switch weekends if that would help, but Josh simply went quiet and excused himself to bed. On his way, he surprised me with a tight hug. \u201cGood night, Liv,\u201d he said softly. His words carried a weight that stayed with me.The truth came out the following weekend. Patrick had gone shopping, and I was sitting alone on the couch, waiting for Josh. Our new security system, which we had installed after a string of neighborhood thefts, was synced with the TV. The moment there was movement on the porch, the feed replaced whatever show we were watching. I was sipping tea when the screen switched to a live view of the front door\u2014Josh and Linda were standing there.\u201cHere are your cookies,\u201d Linda said, handing him a container. \u201cAnd don\u2019t forget what you have to do.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Josh hesitated. \u201cMom, I don\u2019t want to.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cYou have to tell them the truth,\u201d Linda replied. \u201cI need one of Olivia\u2019s necklaces or rings next time. I can pawn it to clear some of my debt.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I froze.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Josh pleaded with her to stop. \u201cLiv\u2019s going to notice her things are missing. The sanitary pads, the lotion\u2026 Mom, I can\u2019t keep doing this.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I felt sick. Josh had been caught in a terrible situation, torn between loyalty to his mother and the burden of deceit. But now, everything made sense. I had noticed my personal items disappearing, and now I understood why.Linda\u2019s voice was sharp. \u201cSo what? They\u2019ve got money. You need to do this to help me.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
I could barely hold back my emotions as I made my way to the front door and opened it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cLinda,\u201d I said firmly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Josh looked surprised but reached out for a hug.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI heard everything,\u201d I told Linda. Her eyes shifted nervously, and Josh clung to me, his breathing shaky.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cJosh, go to your room for a bit, sweetheart,\u201d I said gently. Once Josh had gone, I turned to Linda. \u201cWhat\u2019s going on?\u201dUnder the pressure of my questions, Linda finally confessed. She was struggling with debt and had resorted to desperate measures. She didn\u2019t even try to deny it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cI\u2019ll help you,\u201d I told her. \u201cI\u2019ll give you money to get back on your feet. But you cannot involve Josh again. He stays here with us until you can be a mother without manipulating him. Understand?\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cHe\u2019s my son,\u201d she muttered, clearly defensive.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cNo,\u201d I said, my voice steady. \u201cHe\u2019s a child, and you\u2019re using him. If you don\u2019t stop, I will press charges.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Linda\u2019s face fell as the weight of my words sank in. She nodded and muttered a thank you before walking away.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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