After my dad’s passing, I thought I’d faced the worst of my grief. But little did I know, my stepmom, Sharon, and her adult kids had a shocking surprise in store for me. They’d changed the locks on our family home, and I was left standing outside with my belongings scattered on the lawn. But my mom had a secret that would turn the tables in my favor.
When my parents divorced, I chose to stay with Dad, not because I didn’t love my mom, but because I didn’t want to leave my school, friends, and familiar surroundings. Dad later married Sharon, but she never accepted me. Her smiles were insincere, and her tone was always laced with venom. Her adult kids, Mark and Lisa, treated me like an unwelcome guest, making snide remarks and eyeing me with disdain.
But Dad was always there to defend me, acting as a buffer between me and Sharon’s toxic behavior. After his sudden death, I was devastated, and the funeral was a blur. When I returned home the next day, I was met with a shocking sight: my belongings packed up and thrown out onto the lawn, and the door locked. Sharon stood smugly in the doorway, claiming the house was hers and I was no longer welcome.
Heartbroken and homeless, I called my mom, who’d been unable to attend the funeral due to work. She drove through the night to be with me, and when she arrived, she revealed a shocking truth. She’d paid off the mortgage on the house during the divorce, and it had always been in her name. The house was never Dad’s to give to Sharon, and she produced the deed as proof.
Armed with this new information, we waited for the perfect moment to strike. We called a locksmith, changed the locks, and had Sharon’s belongings packed up and placed on the lawn. When she returned, she was furious, but Mom stood firm, holding the deed and asserting her ownership. The police were called, but in the end, Sharon and her kids were forced to leave, taking their belongings with them.
As we watched them drive away, I felt a sense of relief wash over me. Mom smiled and told me that she wanted to put the deed in my name as soon as I turned 18. I hugged her tightly, grateful for her love and support. For the first time in a long while, I felt safe and at home.
