“Would you ever dare to suggest sending Mason or Hailey to live with Joanie for a school year to cut household costs, Gretchen?” I asked.

“Don’t be ridiculous, Claire, they’re four-week-old newborns who need round-the-clock care,” Gretchen shot back with an irritated wave of her hand.

“Let’s pretend for a minute that Mason and Hailey were nine years old today and Austin was the newborn we just brought home,” I suggested smoothly.

“Would you look my husband in the face and tell him to pack Mason’s bags and ship him to Columbus so Peter could save on groceries?”

“Of course I wouldn’t, Claire, that’s an entirely different situation, and you know it,” Gretchen snapped, her cheeks turning bright crimson.