“You’ve forgotten one spot,” she said, pointing at the stove.

“I’ll go get it,” I replied softly.

She crossed her arms. “You know, the women in this family don’t act like victims every time they get pregnant.”

I turned to her. “I’m not pretending to be helpless. I’m tired.”

Melissa let out a small laugh. “Tired? You’ve been using that excuse for months.”

I didn’t want to argue, so I grabbed a tray and went out onto the balcony to get the extra bottles of soda that were chilled. I’d barely stepped outside when the sliding door slammed shut behind me.

Then I heard the click.

At first, I thought it was an accident. I pulled on the handle. It didn’t move. Melissa was standing on the other side of the glass, arms crossed, looking at me.

“Melissa!” I shouted. “Open the door!”

She leaned closer and said through the glass, “Perhaps a little discomfort will teach you not to be so weak.”

I was shocked. “Are you crazy? I’m pregnant!”

She looked up at the sky. “It’s only a few minutes.”

The cold air pierced me through my thin sweater. I started banging on the window. “Open it now!”

But Melissa simply walked away.

The wind picked up. First my fingers went numb, then my feet. I kept banging, shouting, calling for Ryan, but the music was playing inside and the dishes were clattering. The minutes seemed to drag on. My stomach clenched painfully and fear began to tighten in my throat.

Then a sharp cramp pierced my lower abdomen, stronger than anything I had ever felt before, and my knees almost gave way.