“Are you sure? I don’t want to impose.”

“Exactly. Meet us here this evening. I’ll take you home.”

A small, surprised smile tugged at the corners of Edna’s mouth.

“Alright. I’ll be here.”

I glanced at my watch.

“Come on, Maisie, we need to hurry.”

Maisie clutched her bunny and looked back at Edna, waving happily.

As we rushed toward the preschool, a thousand thoughts swirled in my mind. That was the most impulsive decision I had ever made. But for the first time in a long time, it felt right.

It was time to disappoint Eloise for real.

Maisie and Edna were inseparable. Every afternoon, they sat together on the living room floor, Maisie’s little hands clumsily mimicking Edna’s as they knitted tiny animals and scarves. Their laughter filled the house, a melody of warmth and joy that had been missing for so long.

“Look, Edna! I made another bunny!” Maisie exclaimed, holding up her latest creation with a beaming smile.

Edna leaned over, her eyes crinkling with pride.

“Oh, that’s the best one yet, Maisie. You’re getting so good at this!”

Maisie giggled, scooting closer to Edna.

From the kitchen, Eloise watched with narrowed eyes. It was clear she couldn’t stand how Maisie gravitated toward Edna, leaving her on the outside looking in.

She started buying Maisie gifts, trying to reclaim her role in Maisie’s heart.

“Look, Maisie!” she exclaimed one afternoon, holding out a new doll wrapped in shiny plastic. “Isn’t it beautiful? Grandma got it just for you.”

Maisie looked up at me, confusion clouding her eyes, before slowly reaching out to take the doll.

“Thank you, Grandma,” she mumbled, but her eyes quickly darted back to Edna, clutching the half-knitted bear they were working on.

Eloise’s face turned red with anger. She was losing this unspoken battle.

That morning was particularly heavy. I had a crucial presentation at work, one that could secure our future. I needed everything to go smoothly.

I grabbed the morning mail, my eyes skimming over bills and ads, until they landed on an official-looking envelope.

A court summons! Eloise was suing me for the house. My hands trembled as I turned to face her.

“You’re suing me? Why would you do this, Eloise?”

Eloise didn’t even flinch.

“This house belongs to my son. I’m taking it back before it turns into a refuge for… the whole street.”

Her words were loud enough for Edna to hear. I saw the hurt in her eyes as she absorbed Eloise’s cruel remark. Without a word, Edna turned and walked toward the kitchen, her shoulders sagging as she disappeared from view.

I wanted to scream, to tell Eloise how heartless she was being, but the clock was ticking.

“This isn’t over.”

I rushed to the door, ready to dash out and face the day, when I nearly collided with two stern-looking individuals standing on the porch.

“Child Protective Services,” one of them said, holding up a badge. “We’ve received a report about Maisie living in unsafe conditions and a potentially dangerous person in the house.”

I felt the world spin around me.

“What? No, that’s… that’s not true!” I stammered, glancing back at Eloise, who was now standing behind me.

“We need to conduct an inspection,” the other social worker said, stepping inside without waiting for my response.