I had just closed on my beach house when my sister called and ordered me

I made one phone call.

My best friend, Emily, had been a lifeline through thick and thin, the kind of person who could always be counted on for wisdom and support. Her laughter echoed over the line when I told her about my sister’s audacious declaration.

“Twenty-two people? She really went all out this time,” Emily chuckled.

I could almost see her shaking her head in disbelief. “What are you going to do?”

“Something I’ve never done before,” I replied, a hint of mischief in my voice.

We hatched a plan, simple yet effective. It was time to set boundaries. It was time to reclaim my space.

When my sister and her entourage arrived, their SUVs stacked high with suitcases, they found themselves stopped at the gate. My sister’s expression morphed from smugness to confusion while I stepped forward with a firm smile.