DEAR ABBY: I am 12 and have lived in Texas all my life, until a few months ago when we moved to Las Cruces, N.M. My younger sister, "Janey," and I didn't want to move, but Mother met "Patrick" online and fell in love. We moved to Las Cruces so they could be together and get married someday.
I like Patrick because he's nice to us, but Janey and I don't get along with his daughter, "Rita." She is 15, and says we have stolen her time with her dad. She is jealous because he pays attention to us, and she can't have him all to herself.
Please tell me how I can let her know we're not stealing her father and that he still loves her. -- STRESSED IN LAS CRUCES
DEAR STRESSED: As much as you might wish to put Rita's fears to rest, the person who must reassure her is her father. Tell Patrick privately what you have told me. Or better yet, clip this letter and tell him you wrote it. If he's unable to allay his daughter's concerns, some sessions with a family counselor would be a wise investment.