Peter McDonald

Adam lives in the semi-rural plains north of Detroit. I met him at a recording studio above a Walgreens near his house. He drove there in an old pickup truck after dropping his son off at school. Adam's a visual artist, like his mom. He's around 40, kind, and outgoing. He had a coffee from Tim Hortons, the Canadian Starbucks.

Adam explained to me how, after their successful adoption, he and Kyle became close with Tara Lee. They broke bread with her husband and children. Her oldest daughter babysat for them. Her husband fixed their HVAC. And they talked and texted with her almost every day, the way you do with your closest friends.

Adam explained to me how, after their successful adoption, he and Kyle became close with Tara Lee. They broke bread with her husband and children. Her oldest daughter babysat for them. Her husband fixed their HVAC. And they talked and texted with her almost every day, the way you do with your closest friends.

Adam explained to me how, after their successful adoption, he and Kyle became close with Tara Lee. They broke bread with her husband and children. Her oldest daughter babysat for them. Her husband fixed their HVAC. And they talked and texted with her almost every day, the way you do with your closest friends.

Then, in early 2018, Tara Lee told Adam and Kyle that their son's birth mother was pregnant again.

Then, in early 2018, Tara Lee told Adam and Kyle that their son's birth mother was pregnant again.

Then, in early 2018, Tara Lee told Adam and Kyle that their son's birth mother was pregnant again.

But Tara Lee didn't like that answer. She flashed a side of herself that they hadn't seen before and questioned their love for their son.

But Tara Lee didn't like that answer. She flashed a side of herself that they hadn't seen before and questioned their love for their son.

But Tara Lee didn't like that answer. She flashed a side of herself that they hadn't seen before and questioned their love for their son.

They looked the other way and put it on credit and got excited again. And they broke the great news to their family. It was all going well until the delivery, when, to their surprise, Tara Lee said the birth mother had changed her mind.

They looked the other way and put it on credit and got excited again. And they broke the great news to their family. It was all going well until the delivery, when, to their surprise, Tara Lee said the birth mother had changed her mind.

They looked the other way and put it on credit and got excited again. And they broke the great news to their family. It was all going well until the delivery, when, to their surprise, Tara Lee said the birth mother had changed her mind.

She matched them again. They put $9,000 more on their credit card to cover the woman's living expenses. But when they found evidence that the birth mother was using drugs during her pregnancy, they backed out of the match. Tara Lee said any money left over would be rolled over to the next match. They recommitted. The next match happened fast. The birth mother had been through an adoption before.

She matched them again. They put $9,000 more on their credit card to cover the woman's living expenses. But when they found evidence that the birth mother was using drugs during her pregnancy, they backed out of the match. Tara Lee said any money left over would be rolled over to the next match. They recommitted. The next match happened fast. The birth mother had been through an adoption before.

She matched them again. They put $9,000 more on their credit card to cover the woman's living expenses. But when they found evidence that the birth mother was using drugs during her pregnancy, they backed out of the match. Tara Lee said any money left over would be rolled over to the next match. They recommitted. The next match happened fast. The birth mother had been through an adoption before.

She knew the steps, and she was due soon. Adam and Kyle felt good about it. A few weeks later, though, Tara Lee told them that the woman had stopped returning her calls. So Kyle, the IT whiz and armchair sleuth, got on Facebook. And he found a profile of the family who'd adopted the woman's previous baby. And their posts showed them celebrating the adoption of her next baby.

She knew the steps, and she was due soon. Adam and Kyle felt good about it. A few weeks later, though, Tara Lee told them that the woman had stopped returning her calls. So Kyle, the IT whiz and armchair sleuth, got on Facebook. And he found a profile of the family who'd adopted the woman's previous baby. And their posts showed them celebrating the adoption of her next baby.

She knew the steps, and she was due soon. Adam and Kyle felt good about it. A few weeks later, though, Tara Lee told them that the woman had stopped returning her calls. So Kyle, the IT whiz and armchair sleuth, got on Facebook. And he found a profile of the family who'd adopted the woman's previous baby. And their posts showed them celebrating the adoption of her next baby.

The birth mom had even liked the posts. Kyle sent the family a message. Hey, not sure if you know what's going on, but we were under the impression that we were adopting this baby. He got a response from the birth mother's boyfriend. Back off. This baby's not yours. I don't know who you are or what you're doing. When Adam and Kyle told Tara Lee this, she expressed shock and outrage.