When I tried telling Dad about these moments, Carol would act shocked.

“I never said that! Jocelyn, why would you make something like that up?” She’d look at Dad with such wounded eyes. “I’ve been nothing but kind to her. Maybe she’s just having trouble adjusting to having a new authority figure.”

Dad would pull me aside later. “Sweetheart, I know this is hard. But Carol loves you. Sometimes when people are trying to help, it doesn’t come out right. Can you try to give her a chance?”

So, I kept quiet. For Dad. Because he seemed happy again, and I didn’t want to be the reason that changed.

But Carol wasn’t done showing her true colors. Not by a long shot.