“Do you think he’s okay, Patrick?” Olivia asked one evening while preparing dinner, glancing at Josh, who had just returned home and was unusually irritable.
Patrick shrugged. “I’m sure he’s fine. Linda probably gave him a hard time about school again. She can be a lot.”
Olivia nodded but couldn’t shake the feeling that something deeper was troubling Josh. She recalled the early days when Josh first came to live with them. He had been a bright light, eager to chat about his day and ask endless questions. They spent hours baking together, bonding over shared experiences. But now, that joy seemed like a distant memory. Despite their best efforts—cooking his favorite meals, organizing movie nights—nothing seemed to lift Josh’s spirits.
Later that evening, Patrick sat down with Josh for a heart-to-heart, but the conversation revealed little. “It’s just exhausting being at Mom’s,” Josh admitted. “But I know it’s important to spend time with her.”
Patrick suggested they could reduce the visits if it was too overwhelming, but Josh quickly brushed off the idea and retreated to his room. He briefly stopped to hug Olivia on his way, a gesture that both comforted and concerned her.
Olivia’s worries deepened until one fateful Sunday, when everything became clear. While waiting for Josh to return from Linda’s house, Olivia saw their porch security camera feed appear on the TV. Josh and his mother were standing outside, and Olivia’s curiosity piqued. She watched as Linda handed Josh a container of cookies and said, “You know what you have to do.”
Olivia’s stomach twisted as she watched the scene unfold. Josh hesitated, his voice breaking as he said, “Mom, I don’t want to lie anymore. They know something’s wrong. If Dad found out you’ve been making me steal from his house every week, he’d be furious!”
Olivia’s heart sank. Stealing? From his own family? She listened in disbelief as Linda coldly instructed Josh to continue taking items from the house—everything from Olivia’s toiletries to Patrick’s emergency cash stash. Linda even demanded that Josh steal some of Olivia’s jewelry to help pay off her debts.
Furious and heartsore for Josh, Olivia marched to the front door. “Linda, I heard everything,” she said, her voice cold. Josh hugged Olivia tightly, his guilt and shame palpable.
Linda tried to explain, but Olivia cut her off. “I’ll help you get back on your feet, but Josh is staying with us until you can care for him properly. And you will never ask him to steal again. Understood?”
Realizing the gravity of the situation, Linda reluctantly agreed. After she left, Josh broke down in tears. “I didn’t want to do it. I’m so sorry, Liv.”
Olivia hugged him tightly. “It’s okay, sweetheart. We’ll fix this, and everything will be better.”
Though Olivia had been shocked and hurt by the revelation, her first concern was for Josh. She vowed to protect him from being used again and to ensure he felt safe and loved in their home.