Later, my parents discovered Helen had been making jokes at a neighborhood gathering about the “free house” they’d given her. Hurt by her words, they decided to start charging rent. Helen was furious, but Nathan, her husband, quietly agreed.Today, Eva and Jim live happily with me. Our home is filled with laughter again — Eva bakes while Jim practices lacrosse in the yard. What began as a painful situation has turned into a fresh start, and I’ve learned that protecting my kids’ happiness is worth every hard decision I’ve had to make.