I was halfway to my mother-in-law’s house with a freshly baked lasagna

when my lawyer’s frantic call changed everything. “Go back home. NOW,”

she shouted. What I walked into that night exposed the ugly sides of two

of the closest people in my life.I used to think my life was pretty stable.

As a finance executive with a well-paying job, I had the kind of independence I’d always wanted.

My bills were paid, my fridge was full, and I could afford little luxuries here and there.

It felt like I had everything under control until the day I discovered the truth about my husband,

Matt.My MIL, Linda, had been sick for days. On Wednesday evening, my husband Matt and I were set

to finalize a huge milestone: buying the house we’d rented for five years. But Matt pulled me aside, looking worrie

“Mom’s not doing well,” he said. “She hasn’t eaten all day. You should bring her dinner.”

I hesitated. “We have that meeting with the real estate agent soon,” I reminded him. “Can’t we send takeout?”

He frowned. “Takeout? She needs homemade comfort food. You know she loves your lasagna.”

Torn between our plans and wanting to help his mom, I caved. Maybe this would mend things

between Linda and me — she’s never really seen me as a part of the familyI spent hours

cooking the lasagna and, at 6 P.M., packed it up and drove to Linda’s house,

40 minutes away. Halfway there, my phone buzzed. It was my lawyer, Sarah.