Peter looked over at Gretchen as if pleading with his mother to step in and take the blame, but Gretchen only drew herself up taller.

“Peter has been carrying a mountain of pressure with the hospital bills, your unpaid medical leave and the babies crying around the clock, Claire,” Gretchen announced without blinking.

“And your brilliant idea for lightening his load was to ship my firstborn child three counties away?” I asked, my voice shaking with raw disbelief.

“Nobody said a word about shipping him off forever, Claire, so please quit being so dramatic when all we’re trying to do is help you get through this,” Gretchen scoffed.

Before I could snap back at her, Austin stepped a little in front of me, and his small voice cut right through the grown-ups’ argument.