It was a sunny day in mid-June when Jake, my stepson, arrived. I’m Lisa, a woman in my mid-40s, married to Mark. We have two children together, 8-year-old Emma and 6-year-old Noah. Mark has another son, Jake, from his first marriage.
Teen boy on the road | Source: Pexels
Jake, now 16, visited every few years. He used to be sweet and polite, but this summer felt different. I hoped it was just teenage angst.
“Hi, Jake! How was the trip?” I greeted him warmly.