Driving Kelly home, I knocked on the front door, greeted by her mother. I'd met with her rarely, spoken with her even less. I told her that Kelly would be moving into my house. When she called her own daughter a little bitch, I knew I was making the right move. Her mother hurled abuse as Kelly packed her things, hearing her cry. I left Hannah and Katie to comfort her as I dealt with her mother. I did not like intimidating women, let alone being violent, but I hated that sort of abuse above everything.

"One more word, Karen, and I'm going to slap the shit out of you,"...