In an angry tone, Kaja insisted that protecting the family name was more important than money. I agreed that paying off Michelle to save our reputation was an option. “From her perspective, she’s fighting to survive any way she can. If I were to marry her, there would be no cost to the family’s bank account, and only a small blow to the family name. What about it, mom? You always wanted a grandchild. If it’s a girl, we’ll name her Kristine after you.”
Unable to contain her irritation she looked away and wiped off tears. Michelle’s pregnancy brought home the reality that we were all walking on moral quicksand. A mirror of our double standard, my predicament brought to the surface my mother’s pain about my father’s affair with Amber. Kaja was sitting silently, stirring her food with the for
