When We Were Opening Christmas Gifts, My 5-Year-Old Shouted, “Yes! The Other Mom Kept Her Promise!”

telling Simon to call her his ‘other mom.’ I told her to stop. I told her she couldn’t come anymore.”

“And the gift?” I asked.

His face crumpled. “I didn’t put it under the tree. I thought it was one of ours.”

The realization hit me hard.

She had been inside our home.

While we slept.

That’s when Simon stepped into the doorway.

“Mom,” he asked quietly, “is continue reading …