I knew my mother-in-law hated me, but I never thought she would hide shrimp in my food while I was pregnant. When my throat closed and I grabbed my belly, Daniel snapped, “Stop em:bar:rassing my mother.”

stared at him.

“I can’t breathe,” I whispered.

His eyes flicked toward the guests before returning to me.

“You said that at Mom’s birthday dinner when she served crab cakes.”

“Because they were crab cakes.”

Margaret sighed softly, as if she were the wounded one.

“Daniel, perhaps she just needs fresh air. Pregnancy makes women emotional.”

The room blurred.continue reading …