That night, as Caleb was showering, I sat on the edge of the bed and sent him a very clear, heavily documented ultimatum text message. “They have two choices. Choice A: They are guests. They leave in exactly 14 days. Choice B: They are tenants. They sign a month-to-month lease tomorrow morning requiring a $1,500 deposit and $1,000 monthly rent. If neither happens, I will handle it my way.”
Ten minutes later, Caleb rushed into the bedroom, a towel wrapped around his waist, holding his phone. “Jenna, what the hell is this? You can’t charge my mother rent! Are you crazy?”
Before I could answer, my phone buzzed on the nightstand. It was a text from Darla.
“Hey sweetie! Just looking at the layout. Since my back is so bad and Rick needs his space, we’re going to be taking the master bedroom. You and Caleb can move your things to the smaller guest room down the hall. We’ll start moving our bags in tomorrow! 😊”
I stared at the screen. My fake smile vanished, replaced by an expression of cold, predatory focus. They didn’t just want a free ride. They wanted to conquer my home.
Chapter 2: The Master Bedroom Battle
I didn’t reply to the text. I didn’t say a word to Caleb, who was still standing by the bathroom door, whining about how I was being “inflexible.” I simply gripped my phone, stood up, and strode out of the bedroom and down the hallway.
When I reached the living room, the audacity I witnessed nearly stopped my heart.
Darla hadn’t waited for tomorrow. She was already dragging her largest, heaviest suitcase across my hardwood floors, leaving faint scuff marks behind, heading directly toward the hallway that led to the master suite. Tasha was right behind her, carrying a stack of Darla’s clothes.
I stepped forward, moving with purpose, and planted my body squarely in the center of the hallway, physically blocking the doorway.
“Stop right there,” I commanded. My voice wasn’t loud, but it possessed a sharp, cutting authority that made both women freeze.
