Behind her were my stepfather, Dale, my younger half-sister Brittany, Brittany’s unemployed boyfriend, and their two boys. Boxes were already piled beside my garage.
I laughed because the alternative was screaming.
“No.”
My mother’s smile tightened. “Don’t be dramatic, Claire. You have four bedrooms. Family helps family.”
“Then help me by getting off my property.”
Brittany rolled her eyes. “You just had a baby and suddenly you think you’re royalty.”
Mom pointed upstairs. “Brittany and the boys can take the two rooms on the left. Dale and I will use the guest room. You barely use half this house anyway.”
One of those rooms was Lily’s nursery.
Something inside me went still.
My mother stepped closer, lowering her voice as if I were being unreasonable. “Dale’s lease ended. Brittany can’t afford her apartment. We discussed this.”
“You discussed it. I said no.”
She waved me off. “You were hormonal.”
