Moving in with my mother was supposed to be a short-term arrangement. My fiancé, Joseph, and I planned to save for a place of our own. At first, things seemed smooth—Mom cooked, cleaned, and even did our laundry. But tension began to build, the kind that creeps in when three adults share a small space.

One night, over dinner, Joseph calmly mentioned that money was disappearing from his wallet. My mom reacted with shock and offense, even storming away after denying everything. I asked Joseph to hold off on conclusions, but deep down, I was uneasy.

A few nights later, I caught her red-handed—pulling cash from Joseph’s wallet at 2 a.m. She didn’t flinch when I asked why. “I’m just collecting rent,” she said coldly. “You two live here for free like this is an Airbnb.” I was stunned. She’d never mentioned needing money, never asked for help—just took it.

The next morning, I told Joseph. He wasn’t surprised. “Let’s move,” he said. Within days, we found a tiny apartment. It wasn’t perfect, but it was ours. While Mom was out shopping, we packed and left a note: We needed space. You know why.

Two weeks later, she called. Her voice was quiet, cracked with guilt. “I crossed the line,” she said. “I’m sorry.” I forgave her, but made it clear—we weren’t moving back.

Now, we see her occasionally. She knocks. She brings pie. And she stays far away from Joseph’s wallet. From a distance, she’s much easier to love.