I Let My Stepdaughter Think She’d Taken Over My House

by the front door.

“The occupancy agreement expired at noon,” I said.

He flinched.

I opened the door and held out the new key ring. One house key. One side door key. Bright brass.

“These are mine now.”

He stood there for a second, then a third, like he was waiting for me to soften because I usually had before.

I didn’t.

He took the suitcases.

Stepped onto continue reading …