When Olivia saw that her stepson Josh was acting differently, she became very worried. Despite her attempts to get her husband, Patrick, to talk to Josh, the boy remained quiet. Then one day, Olivia overheard a shocking conversation between Josh and his biological mother, Linda.
Every Sunday at 5 p.m., like clockwork, Josh came back from his mom’s house. He would walk in quietly, take off his shoes, and head straight to his room. This had become a regular routine, but Josh’s attitude had changed drastically. The cheerful, chatty ten-year-old who used to light up their home was now distant and sullen. He never talked about what happened at his mom’s, and Olivia felt unsure about probing into his life as his stepmother.
One evening, as Olivia was preparing dinner, she asked Patrick, “Do you think he’s okay? He seems off after coming home from his mom’s.”
Patrick shrugged and replied, “I’m sure he’s fine. Linda probably gave him a hard time about school again. She can be quite a lot.”
Olivia nodded but couldn’t shake the nagging feeling that something more serious was going on with Josh. She remembered how Josh used to be excited and chatty when he first came to live with them. They used to bake together and share stories, but now, that joy felt like it was from another lifetime. Despite their efforts—cooking his favorite meals and planning movie nights—nothing seemed to cheer him up.
Later that night, Patrick tried to have a heart-to-heart with Josh, but it didn’t go as planned. “It’s just exhausting being at Mom’s,” Josh said. “But I know it’s important to spend time with her.”
Patrick suggested they could cut back on the visits if it was too overwhelming, but Josh quickly dismissed the idea and went to his room. On his way, he gave Olivia a quick hug, which comforted her but also made her more anxious.
Olivia’s concern grew until one fateful Sunday when she finally understood what was going on. As she waited for Josh to come back from Linda’s, she noticed their porch security camera feed on the TV. She watched as Linda handed Josh a container of cookies and said, “You know what you have to do.”
Olivia’s heart raced as she listened to the conversation. Josh hesitated and 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 was stunned. Stealing from his own family? She heard Linda coldly instruct Josh to keep taking things from their house—Olivia’s toiletries, Patrick’s emergency cash, and even some of Olivia’s jewelry to help pay Linda’s debts.
Feeling a mix of anger and sadness, Olivia marched to the front door and said, “Linda, I heard everything.” Josh hugged Olivia tightly, his face full of guilt and shame.
Linda tried to defend herself, but Olivia cut her off. “I’ll help you get back on your feet, but Josh is staying with us until you can take proper care of him. And you will never ask him to steal again. Understood?”
Linda, realizing the seriousness of the situation, 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 get better.”
Despite her shock and hurt, Olivia’s main concern was Josh. She vowed to protect him from being used again and to make sure he felt safe and loved in their home.
