The Neighbors Across the Hall

Summary

My husband left work early to pick up our daughter, Sophie. I was at home, preparing a birthday surprise for her.

I had just put the Boston lobsters and king crabs in the steamer when my husband texted: "Turn off the stove! Don't cook them yet!"

I knew immediately. Sophie's classmate had tagged along again.

It wasn't that I was stingy or didn't want to share.

But this classmate lived right across the hall. For the past few months, she and her brother had been practically living at our house, eating and drinking for free.