Two weeks after Grace's birth, Aryyah sat in the nursery watching her daughter sleep in the bassinet, the baby's tiny chest rising and falling with each breath, and she knew she couldn't delay the inevitable conversation any longer.

Cletus was in the kitchen making coffee, playing the role of devoted partner despite the tension that had settled over their household since Aryyah's confrontation in the hospital about his gambling debts and pattern of targeting wealthy women.

"Cletus, can you ...