When Family Turns Foe

ater that night, back in Chicago, the pains got worse

, two weeks premature. He was tiny,

iting room, his voice strained. He told them a

to me in the following days. It was as if their grandchild, their firs

rgery, exhausted, and terrified for my son. Michael was my roc

still small, but he was a fighter. Holding him in my arms i

ss than twen

ang. It was

"Your mother... she had the baby. Ja

ed, a strange m

doing well. Postpartum complications.

nowing what

ah. Right away. Your mother

C-section. Leo was in the NICU for tw

s if it were the most reasonable thing in the world. "You can

"I have my own newborn, a premature

d you,

I said, trying to stay calm. "Or a ni

ion. "Sarah, honey, we can't afford that. Not with David's small pension.

We spent everything on the nu

e designer clothes. Th

acob, Sarah. A good one. For at least three months. Then a

choices? For their "miracle baby" after

etty expensive, Mom,"

d sharp. "Don't you lecture me about mo