When my brother proudly announced that his wife was pregnant with baby number five, my parents cheered like the whole family had been blessed. Dad smiled and said, “Great job, son,” but Mom’s eyes shifted straight to me. “You’ll handle the kids,”

agree to watch them today?”

“No.”

“Did you have access to the house this morning?”

“No. I left last night, and I slept at my apartment.”

He nodded, writing with care. “Your mother told us there was a misunderstanding.”

I almost laughed. “My mother calls everything a misunderstanding when Ryan causes it.”

He looked up.

So I opened the folder.

There was Madison’s continue reading …