Tessa was already six months pregnant. Her belly was round and tight, and every kick and every little shift was a constant reminder of the tiny person growing inside her.

That day, Nathan finally took an entire afternoon to shop for what he considered the baby’s essential supplies. Or at least, what Nathan thought counted as essential.

They walked through the aisles of an upscale baby store that looked more like a modern art gallery than a normal shop. Everything was white and ...