What happens to your home when you’re out and about? It seems like a silly question. You have the keys and you’re sure you locked all the doors, right? So was Laura, until her daughter phoned her at work, claiming she couldn’t get in and odd shouts were coming from inside their house. I’ve been a mother for nine years. My husband and I had our lovely daughter, Milly, a year after we married. For a decade we’ve been working together as a perfect pair, raising our sugar droplet, and not once have we had any serious marital issues.

Now, before I get into it, this story isn’t just about familial boundaries being crossed; it’s an exploration of trust, privacy, and what it takes to cultivate forgiveness and understanding in a family. Shortly after Peter and I said our vows, we found the perfect little community. Just small enough to foster a healthy sense of togetherness, but large enough to ensure none of our neighbors will be too nosy. And we loved it here. Our house wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, but we both came from families that were always embroiled in each other’s business and having a spot to ourselves was fantastic. A year sped by in the blink of an eye,and by February of our second year in Sanctuary Hills, we welcomed little Milly. Of course, both of our families made it their prerogative to come down and see the newest addition to the family. And although our house was crowded, I didn’t mind. It was lovely to see everyone again, and my husband was enjoying having his parents close by. For a week, everyone enjoyed themselves at our place,

catching up and cooing over our little sugar droplet. By the next Sunday, everyone started taking their leave, greeting us and everyone else and promising not to stay away too long.