"Harper, get out here! Mommy's pregnant! You're getting a little brother in a few months!"The moment we got home, my husband, Adam Steele, called out toward our daughter's bedroom. Seconds later, our five-year-old came barreling out, squealing as she threw her arms around me."Mommy, there's really a baby in your belly? When he comes out, I'll finally have someone to play with?"I was about to respond when I felt two hostile pairs of eyes fixed on me. The cat and dog, curled up in their beds, stared intently at my belly.The memory of being torn apart in my previous life hit me all at once, the pain so vivid that I could barely breathe. Driven by sheer survival instinct, I grabbed Adam's hand, my voice trembling."Honey, we need to get rid of all the pets in this house."The tabby cat, Whiskers, and the terrier, Sunny, had been with me for ten whole years. I'd long since considered them family. Even when I first got pregnant and my mother-in-law made a huge fuss demanding we get
Read more