“So instead of acting like a partner and showing me where our finances really stand, you decided to dump the money worries of this whole family on a little boy?” I asked, my voice trembling with disgust.

He shifted awkwardly and dodged my blazing stare, looking out the kitchen window at the empty driveway.

“Austin knows he’s adopted, Peter, and he knows his grandmother thinks he’s a burden we can’t afford, and he thinks his mother betrayed him,” I told him coldly.

“I was going to sit down and talk the whole thing over with you this weekend before Joanie got here, Claire, I swear I was,” he begged, reaching for my arm.

“When, Peter?