Furious, I confronted her. She downplayed the situation, claiming it was just a celebration. Josh demanded the guests leave, and I retreated to the bedroom, exhausted but relieved when the chaos ended.

Hours later, I was holding our baby when Elizabeth, tearful, knocked on the door. She apologized for her actions, and I reluctantly allowed her a brief visit with the baby. Despite the tension, I realized I could forgive her, and when the time came for our son’s first celebration, I reached out to her.To my surprise, Elizabeth was respectful and helpful during the party. At the end, she thanked me for giving her a chance to be part of the celebration, and I felt the walls between us finally start to come down. “Welcome to the family,” I told her.