Maternity leave was supposed to be a time of bonding with my newborn, but it turned into a nightmare when my coworker Emily crossed the line. I’m Katie, and with my husband Mark, we were excited about our first baby. Emily had relied on me for rides to work, but I had to stop when my leave began.

Emily suggested Mark drive her, which was impractical. One morning, she showed up at 5:45 a.m., pleading again. Mark, a people-pleaser, hesitated, but I firmly said no. Emily stormed off, upset. A few days later, our car was missing. Panicked, I called the police. Soon after, Emily arrived in our car with her boyfriend.

Emily revealed she’d taken the car, assuming we’d understand. Mark, holding our baby, sternly told her to stay away from us. Shocked, she left without another word. That evening, Mark and I discussed keeping our home safe, deciding to change the locks and install a security system.

Days later, Emily messaged an apology, promising not to bother us again. We chose not to respond, focusing instead on our family. The experience had tested us but made us stronger.

Settling into our new routine, I reflected on our growth. One evening, as Mark held our sleeping baby, I felt at peace. “We’re going to be okay, aren’t we?” I asked. He kissed my forehead. “Yes, we are. We’re stronger than ever.”

Grateful for his support, I knew we could handle anything together. We had each other, and that was all we needed.