My mother-in-law looked at my 38-week pregnant belly, told my husband, “Put a lock on both doors and let her give birth alone,” and then went off on a luxury trip to Aspen, paid for with my money. Seven days later, they returned tanned, smiling, and dragging suitcases full of shopping bags…

Seven days after their departure, they pulled into the driveway fully expecting to find me exactly where they had left me. They thought I would be quiet and broken and waiting to serve them as soon as they walked through the front door with their new clothes.

Their car arrived just after noon and Beulah was the first one to step out with a smug smile on her face. Her happiness did not last long because she noticed the strange silence hanging over the property as they approached the entrance.

Justin dragged his heavy suitcase to the door and inserted his key into the lock with a confident flick of his wrist. The key did not turn and he tried again with more force while looking confused by the sudden resistance of the mechanism.

“Did you forget how to use a door, Justin, or are you just exhausted from the flight?” Skylar asked with a mocking laugh as she stood behind him. Beulah snatched the keys from his hand and shoved them into the lock with absolute confidence but the door remained firmly shut.