{"id":6140,"date":"2024-11-27T01:55:30","date_gmt":"2024-11-27T01:55:30","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/?p=6140"},"modified":"2024-11-27T01:55:30","modified_gmt":"2024-11-27T01:55:30","slug":"my-landlord-kicked-us-out-for-a-week-so-his-brother-could-stay-in-the-house-we-rent","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/my-landlord-kicked-us-out-for-a-week-so-his-brother-could-stay-in-the-house-we-rent\/","title":{"rendered":"My Landlord Kicked Us Out for a Week So His Brother Could Stay In the House We Rent"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p>Our house isn\u2019t much, but it\u2019s ours. The floors creak with every step, and the paint in the kitchen is peeling so badly I\u2019ve started calling it \u201cabstract art.\u201d\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-1 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/324600f1a8d80963ba2ded79d2b277e881efc124981da0403c59086e32e936b8.jpeg%5C%22" alt='\"An' old house source: pexels>\n\n\n\n\n<p>An old house | Source: Pexels<br>\n\n\n\n</p><p>Still, it\u2019s home. My daughters, Lily, Emma, and Sophie, make it feel that way, with their laughter and the little things they do that remind me why I push so hard.\n\n\n\n</p><p>Money was always on my mind. My job as a waitress barely covered our rent and bills. There was no cushion, no backup plan. If something went wrong, I didn\u2019t know what we\u2019d do.\n\n\n\n</p><p>The phone rang the next day while I was hanging out laundry to dry.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-3 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/67ff21c363a4c0003345f3c2782688da9697cd79c5991537903d7d7b6303151a.jpeg%5C%22" alt='\"A' woman hanging laundry source: pexels>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A woman hanging laundry | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cHello?\u201d I answered, tucking the phone between my ear and shoulder.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cNancy, it\u2019s Peterson.\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>His voice made my stomach tighten. \u201cOh, hi, Mr. Peterson. Is everything okay?\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cI need you out of the house for a week,\u201d he said, as casually as if he were asking me to water his plants.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-5 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/92fec9900cb4f5dd78bf230bd16bf0c55e282878edc36bb60528aa8f1ffcc663.webp%5C%22" alt='\"A' woman talking on her phone source: pexels>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A woman talking on her phone | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cWhat?\u201d I froze, a pair of Sophie\u2019s socks still in my hands.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cMy brother\u2019s coming to town, and he needs a place to stay. I told him he could use your house.\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>I thought I must\u2019ve misheard him. \u201cWait\u2014this is my home. We have a lease!\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cDon\u2019t start with that lease nonsense,\u201d he snapped. \u201cRemember when you were late on rent last month? I could\u2019ve kicked you out then, but I didn\u2019t. You owe me.\u201d\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-7 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/3cb040c471a4cd1cd81f506b8f649be297965a35a34082f737e1f2a51027e56a.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"An' angry man talking on his phone source: freepik>\n\n\n\n\n<p>An angry man talking on his phone | Source: Freepik\n\n\n\n</p><p>I gripped the phone tighter. \u201cI was late by one day,\u201d I said, my voice shaking. \u201cMy daughter was sick. I explained that to you\u2014\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cDoesn\u2019t matter,\u201d he interrupted. \u201cYou\u2019ve got till Friday to get out. Be gone, or maybe you won\u2019t come back at all.\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cMr. Peterson, please,\u201d I said, trying to keep the desperation out of my voice. \u201cI don\u2019t have anywhere else to go.\u201d\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-9 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/5f3d0e53a9f55d76ce26c79550673ad26669cfdc40b1d6b45255f254398f9813.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"An' expressive woman talking source: pexels>\n\n\n\n\n<p>An expressive woman talking | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cNot my problem,\u201d he said coldly, and then the line went dead.\n\n\n\n</p><p>I sat on the couch, staring at the phone in my hand. My heart pounded in my ears, and I felt like I couldn\u2019t breathe.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cMama, what\u2019s wrong?\u201d Lily, my oldest, asked from the doorway, her eyes filled with concern.\n\n\n\n</p><p>I forced a smile. \u201cNothing, sweetheart. Go play with your sisters.\u201d\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-11 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/79990a2d0d87be3db63e91bc2b1f3549125eddcd4ec3b35e83f279cf2a216a12.webp%5C%22" alt='\"A' woman talking to her daughter source: pexels>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A woman talking to her daughter | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n</p><p>But it wasn\u2019t nothing. I had no savings, no family nearby, and no way to fight back. If I stood up to Peterson, he\u2019d find an excuse to evict us for good.\n\n\n\n</p><p>By Thursday night, I\u2019d packed what little we could carry into a few bags. The girls were full of questions, but I didn\u2019t know how to explain what was happening.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cWe\u2019re going on an adventure,\u201d I told them, trying to sound cheerful.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-13 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/8f84fef75cf91cd7f2001f9ac07b38ba380cf860f0799ff410acea3224924093.jpeg%5C%22" alt='\"A' woman packing together with her daughter source: pexels>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A woman packing together with her daughter | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cIs it far?\u201d Sophie asked, clutching Mr. Floppy to her chest.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cNot too far,\u201d I said, avoiding her gaze.\n\n\n\n</p><p>The hostel was worse than I expected. The room was tiny, barely big enough for the four of us, and the walls were so thin we could hear every cough, every creak, every loud voice from the other side.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-15 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/aa9b0c1a255140d924d7a0bbe7da830be705829ff7955fdc1cacf15bb4ede0ed.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"A' woman in a hostel source: freepik>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A woman in a hostel | Source: Freepik\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cMama, it\u2019s noisy,\u201d Emma said, pressing her hands over her ears.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cI know, sweetie,\u201d I said softly, stroking her hair.\n\n\n\n</p><p>Lily tried to distract her sisters by playing I Spy, but it didn\u2019t work for long. Sophie\u2019s little face crumpled, and tears started streaming down her cheeks.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cWhere\u2019s Mr. Floppy?\u201d she cried, her voice breaking.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-17 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/5d82bf416906f70f01db67ad44c057f84f7d4419232a1d10fef143386b22d9ee.webp%5C%22" alt='\"A' crying child source: pexels>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A crying child | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n</p><p>My stomach sank. In the rush to leave, I\u2019d forgotten her bunny.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cHe\u2019s still at home,\u201d I said, my throat tightening.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cI can\u2019t sleep without him!\u201d Sophie sobbed, clutching my arm.\n\n\n\n</p><p>I wrapped her in my arms and held her close, whispering that it would be okay. But I knew it wasn\u2019t okay.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-19 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/d1bf52eff7969b33012ebb6171cfed6d5b5b536d6e4499b9f5c45444038c432d.jpg%5C%22" alt='\"A' woman hugging her crying child source: freepik>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A woman hugging her crying child | Source: Freepik\n\n\n\n</p><p>That night, as Sophie cried herself to sleep, I stared at the cracked ceiling, feeling completely helpless.\n\n\n\n</p><p>By the fourth night, Sophie\u2019s crying hadn\u2019t stopped. Every sob felt like a knife to my heart.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cPlease, Mama,\u201d she whispered, her voice raw. \u201cI want Mr. Floppy.\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>I held her tightly, rocking her back and forth.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-21 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/de1bc7c7aba097e55544dcf1c1961e23174fc8ea62f33e4c7b0beb4b23c1da48.jpeg%5C%22" alt='\"A' crying girl source: pexels>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A crying girl | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n</p><p>I couldn\u2019t take it anymore.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cI\u2019ll get him,\u201d I whispered, more to myself than to her.\n\n\n\n</p><p>I didn\u2019t know how, but I had to try.\n\n\n\n</p><p>I parked down the street, my heart pounding as I stared at the house. What if they didn\u2019t let me in? What if Mr. Peterson was there? But Sophie\u2019s tear-streaked face wouldn\u2019t leave my mind.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-23 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/b56d1951bff4252ea346afba3c44eb30415a043aec9b904c9777522818a5e6de.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' thoughtful woman in front of her house source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A thoughtful woman in front of her house | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>I took a deep breath and walked up to the door, Sophie\u2019s desperate \u201cplease\u201d echoing in my ears. My knuckles rapped against the wood, and I held my breath.\n\n\n\n</p><p>The door opened, and a man I\u2019d never seen before stood there. He was tall, with a kind face and sharp green eyes.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cCan I help you?\u201d he asked, looking puzzled.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-25 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/6bed25ecd800029bd4b4f12c3973a40fb7cb95d9af6c3f6eab8c2dea6afdc826.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' man in front of his house source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A man in front of his house | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cHi,\u201d I stammered. \u201cI\u2014I\u2019m sorry to bother you, but I\u2019m the tenant here. My daughter left her stuffed bunny inside, and I was hoping I could grab it.\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>He blinked at me. \u201cWait. You live here?\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cYes,\u201d I said, feeling a lump form in my throat. \u201cBut Mr. Peterson told us we had to leave for a week because you were staying here.\u201d\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-27 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/362236d7ec284141492a65b5b4becff811382abafd79cc4a908699c948916c75.webp%5C%22" alt='\"A' sad woman in the doorway source: pexels>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A sad woman in the doorway | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n</p><p>His brows furrowed. \u201cWhat? My brother said the place was empty and ready for me to move in for a bit.\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>I couldn\u2019t stop the words from spilling out. \u201cIt\u2019s not empty. This is my home. My kids and I are crammed into a hostel across town. My youngest can\u2019t sleep because she doesn\u2019t have her bunny.\u201d\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-29 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/f42b612e931fe5f314dab9198451d7b3ed2532fb7f48ef19976fe79850d93544.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' sad young woman talking to a man source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A sad young woman talking to a man | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>His face darkened, and for a second, I thought he was angry at me. Instead, he muttered, \u201cThat son of a\u2026\u201d He stopped himself, closing his eyes and taking a deep breath.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cI\u2019m so sorry,\u201d he said, his voice softer now. \u201cI had no idea. Come in, and we\u2019ll find the bunny.\u201d\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-31 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/b95832f000462cf4d2372f80f313eb7a6e8e7241ddfa09df44a13271b51c5db8.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' serious young man opening his door source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A serious young man opening his door | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>He stepped aside, and I hesitated before walking in. The familiar smell of home hit me, and my eyes burned with tears I refused to let fall. Jack\u2014he introduced himself as Jack\u2014helped me search Sophie\u2019s room, which looked untouched.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cHere he is,\u201d Jack said, pulling Mr. Floppy from under the bed.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-33 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/bb64570db8fa6e3367bea816948bcafe6196edafb8bea78dd6949d7424f68f2c.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' pink stuffed bunny under a bed source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A pink stuffed bunny under a bed | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>I held the bunny close, imagining Sophie\u2019s joy. \u201cThank you,\u201d I said, my voice trembling.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cTell me everything,\u201d Jack said, sitting on the edge of Sophie\u2019s bed. \u201cWhat exactly did my brother say to you?\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>I hesitated but told him everything: the call, the threats, the hostel. He listened quietly, his jaw tightening with every word.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-35 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/bc274798d702764f30c62180c5cfb7753cee992be971bfe1b3d5935baececd2a.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' couple talking source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A couple talking | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>When I finished, he stood and pulled out his phone. \u201cThis isn\u2019t right,\u201d he said.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cWait\u2014what are you doing?\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cFixing this,\u201d he said, dialing.\n\n\n\n</p><p>The conversation that followed was heated, though I could only hear his side.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-37 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/c7f79e8cc4fca0076876f31a4af85b2b4567acd3d0685af9e5e2f4eddaa94881.webp%5C%22" alt='\"A' serious man on his phone source: pexels>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A serious man on his phone | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cYou kicked a single mom and her kids out of their home? For me?\u201d Jack\u2019s voice was sharp. \u201cNo, you\u2019re not getting away with this. Fix it now, or I will.\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>He hung up and turned to me. \u201cPack your things at the hostel. You\u2019re coming back tonight.\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>I blinked, not sure I\u2019d heard him right. \u201cWhat about you?\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cI\u2019ll find somewhere else to stay,\u201d he said firmly. \u201cI can\u2019t stay here after what my brother pulled. And he\u2019ll cover your rent for the next six months.\u201d\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/532fdc2c1924e86cbbba47c9e7c112ea226c6b90f0c2c01c94b55cebe7d1e6fa.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' smiling man talking to a woman source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n<p>A smiling man talking to a woman | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>That evening, Jack helped us move back in. Sophie lit up when she saw Mr. Floppy, her little arms clutching the bunny like a treasure.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cThank you,\u201d I told Jack as we unpacked. \u201cYou didn\u2019t have to do all this.\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cI couldn\u2019t let you stay there another night,\u201d he said simply.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-39 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/264182df3396b5e2dba4057e2ca26bc6dd3b856d46542df8044459fb96f0e306.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' young child holding her toy source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A young child holding her toy | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>Over the next few weeks, Jack kept showing up. He fixed the leaky faucet in the kitchen. One night, he brought over groceries.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cYou didn\u2019t have to do this,\u201d I said, feeling overwhelmed.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cIt\u2019s nothing,\u201d he said with a shrug. \u201cI like helping.\u201d\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-41 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/02c348149d9347e19040ae5ced3c7483d53e0ab78df4700e41cc3bff073bd819.webp%5C%22" alt='\"A' man with groceries source: pexels>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A man with groceries | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n</p><p>The girls adored him. Lily asked for his advice on her science project. Emma roped him into board games. Even Sophie warmed up to him, offering Mr. Floppy a \u201chug\u201d for Jack to join their tea party.\n\n\n\n</p><p>I started to see more of the man behind the kind gestures. He was funny, patient, and genuinely cared about my kids. Eventually, our dinners together blossomed into a romance.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-43 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/8517812a2535d1e96881a81a84881c968f53e8646a3d61d461a625c904dbe311.webp%5C%22" alt='\"A' couple on a date night source: pexels>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A couple on a date night | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n</p><p>One evening several months later, as we sat on the porch after the girls had gone to bed, Jack spoke quietly.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cI\u2019ve been thinking,\u201d he said, looking out into the yard.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cAbout what?\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cI don\u2019t want you and the girls to ever feel like this again. No one should be scared of losing their home overnight.\u201d\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-45 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/146fdca39ce4f1633ce24acf86c4c7ee77d6fd71b27656af55810f180278a6b6.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' young man talking to his girlfriend source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A young man talking to his girlfriend | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>His words hung in the air.\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cI want to help you find something permanent,\u201d he continued. \u201cWill you marry me?\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>I was stunned. \u201cJack\u2026 I don\u2019t know what to say. Yes!\u201d\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-47 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/4f8e9ff946a0218cf644f0e27cc2e434a4adbb858c3579142ab851fe05663c25.jpeg%5C%22" alt='\"A' marriage proposal source: pexels>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A marriage proposal | Source: Pexels\n\n\n\n</p><p>A month later, we moved into a beautiful little house Jack found for us. Lily had her own room. Emma painted hers pink. Sophie ran to hers, holding Mr. Floppy like a shield.\n\n\n\n</p><p>As I tucked Sophie in that night, she whispered, \u201cMama, I love our new home.\u201d\n\n\n\n</p><p>\u201cSo do I, baby,\u201d I said, kissing her forehead.\n\n\n\n<figure class='\"wp-block-gallery' has-nested-images columns-default is-cropped wp-block-gallery-49 is-layout-flex wp-block-gallery-is-layout-flex>\n<figure class='\"wp-block-image\"'><img decoding='\"async\"' src="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/cdn.amomama.com%5C/441e6185ad49119d3a7238775d43a057a2e56b733aa95790275d067f52d846fd.png%5C%22" alt='\"A' woman tucking her daughter in source: midjourney>\n\n\n\n\n<p>A woman tucking her daughter in | Source: Midjourney\n\n\n\n</p><p>Jack stayed for dinner that night, helping me set the table. As the girls chattered, I looked at him and knew: he wasn\u2019t just our hero. He was family.\n\n\n\n</p><p>Liked this story? Consider checking out&nbsp;<a href="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/amomama.com%5C/435383-my-husband-forbade-me-from-entering-our.html%5C%22"><strong>this one: When Lily\u2019s husband started acting weird about their garage, telling her to stay out and making up excuses, she knew something was off. But what she found inside was way more than she bargained for.\n\n\n\n<p><em>This work is inspired by real events and people, but it has been fictionalized for creative purposes. Names, characters, and details have been changed to protect privacy and enhance the narrative. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental and not intended by the author.\n\n\n\n<p><em>The author and publisher make no claims to the accuracy of events or the portrayal of characters and are not liable for any misinterpretation. This story is provided \u201cas is,\u201d and any opinions expressed are those of the characters and do not reflect the views of the author or publisher.\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<div class='\"mh-excerpt\"'><p>Our house isn\u2019t much, but it\u2019s ours. The floors creak with every step, and the paint in the kitchen is peeling so badly I\u2019ve started <a class='\"mh-excerpt-more\"' href="%5C%22https:%5C/%5C/sciencesandnatures.com%5C/my-landlord-kicked-us-out-for-a-week-so-his-brother-could-stay-in-the-house-we-rent%5C/%5C%22" title='\"My' landlord kicked us out for a week so his brother could stay in the house we rent>[&hellip;]\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6140"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6140"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6140\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":6141,"href":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6140\/revisions\/6141"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6140"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6140"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sciencesandnatures.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6140"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}</a></p></div></em></p></em></p></strong></a></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p></figure></figure></p>