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…

I felt a sudden warm rush of fluid down my legs and gripped the edge of the velvet sofa so tightly that my knuckles turned white. “My water just broke, Justin, so you need to call an ambulance right now because the baby is coming,” I pleaded with him.

I will never forget the specific way he avoided my eyes as he stood by the door with his luggage in hand. His expression was not one of anger or fear but was a display of pure cowardice and a total lack of concern for the mother of his child.

The most devastating part of that morning was not the fact that they were leaving me in a state of medical crisis. It was the muffled conversation I heard through the heavy oak door just as they stepped out onto the porch to meet their driver.

“Lock both doors, Justin, and make sure she doesn’t even think about following us to the airport or calling us while we are trying to relax,” Beulah commanded. My husband actually followed her instructions and turned the key while leaving me trapped inside the house we shared.