That I was, in Vanessa’s word, too soft on the help, that I let the household staff forget their place.

The first few times, I pushed back.

I told her, plainly, that these were people who had been loyal to my family for years, that Teresa was practically kin, that I did not run my home like a caste system and did not intend to start.

And Vanessa would soften, and agree, and let it go, and I would feel the matter was settled.

It was not settled.