Convinced that my stepdaughter is a thief

Dear Pastor,

I am a 39-year-old woman and I am with a man who is 44 and the relationship was going well until I agreed to take in his 14-year-old daughter. I love the girl as my own but she is a thief. She stole my money. She denied that she did it and her father believed her. That girl cried the living eye water and said that she did not take the money. When I said that she was responsible for stealing my money, her father told me that I did not see her take it so I shouldn't accuse her. I checked with her friends at her school and they told me she always had money to spend and she was always buying hamburgers and fry chicken. Her father gives her pocket money every week, even when she does not have to go to school. I told him to stop giving her money for a week and see what would happen but he said that he did not want her to ask men for money because men will want something from her and he does not want her to bring any 'belly' home.

My boyfriend is a very good father but he cannot see that his daughter is tricking him. I am not telling him not to love his daughter but, when he calls me a liar, it affects me. I have a son but he is living with his father's mother. I am not responsible for him. This girl does not have a boyfriend but she steals my money to show off. I told my boyfriend that, if she didn't stop, I was going to leave him. He said I had my plans and it was because I saw another man why I threatened him. So I am asking you for your advice.

Y.L.

Dear Y.L.,

I am going to suggest that whenever you have money, and for some reason you have to keep a certain amount of your money at home, that you give it to your stepdaughter for safekeeping. If she is not the thief, you would know because she would be the one in charge of that money. You do not even have to tell her father that you gave her the money. Just put that money into her hand and, whenever you need it, ask her for it. I think you will discover that that money would be safe. You and this man have got along very well but, since his daughter has come to live with you, things have changed. You know you don't have any man apart from him, but he hates to discover that his daughter is dishonest and is a big thief. So, I suggest that you do exactly what I have told you and see what happens. I wish you well. Let me hear from you again.

Pastor