“When Ethan was between jobs, I managed the household resources to keep this family secure.”

“My body, my work, my child, and my transportation are not your property,” I said.

Linda stiffened, her knuckles turning white as her fingers locked together against the hem of her sweater.

“I was protecting this family’s stability while my son looked for work,” Linda said, her sharp tone coming back for a second before she caught herself and turned back toward my father.

“Nobody in this house was trying to take anything that belonged to someone else.”