My Husband Told Me to “Handle It Yourself” While I Was in Labor So He Could Stay at His Mother’s Birthday—Then I Made One Phone Call

That line appears often in complicated families.

For good reason.

PART 63 — THE PARTY PHOTO

Years later, Bernice gave Liam a photo album.

Inside were photographs from that sixty-fifth birthday.

Brandon smiling.

Champagne.

Band.

Cake.

Timestamped around the hour I was in labor.