Peter McDonald

Then Tara Lee told them that Stephanie, the birth mother, was waiting on another line.

Then Tara Lee told them that Stephanie, the birth mother, was waiting on another line.

Teresa said, of course. So Stephanie came on and said hello. She was in her early 40s and had been taking care of others her whole life. First, her younger siblings. Then, two children from her first marriage, who were now older. Then her husband went to prison for a drug-related offense, and they divorced.

Teresa said, of course. So Stephanie came on and said hello. She was in her early 40s and had been taking care of others her whole life. First, her younger siblings. Then, two children from her first marriage, who were now older. Then her husband went to prison for a drug-related offense, and they divorced.

Teresa said, of course. So Stephanie came on and said hello. She was in her early 40s and had been taking care of others her whole life. First, her younger siblings. Then, two children from her first marriage, who were now older. Then her husband went to prison for a drug-related offense, and they divorced.

And now, she lived with her boyfriend and was raising their four-year-old son on the boyfriend's limited income. They decided to put their baby up for adoption because they thought he'd have a better life. But it was a very hard decision.

And now, she lived with her boyfriend and was raising their four-year-old son on the boyfriend's limited income. They decided to put their baby up for adoption because they thought he'd have a better life. But it was a very hard decision.

And now, she lived with her boyfriend and was raising their four-year-old son on the boyfriend's limited income. They decided to put their baby up for adoption because they thought he'd have a better life. But it was a very hard decision.

The Mathinis told me the call was tense. They didn't want to say the wrong thing and make Stephanie second-guess her decision. As in any private adoption, Stephanie had the right to change her mind even a few days after the final adoption agreements were signed, and that would be days after her son was born.

The Mathinis told me the call was tense. They didn't want to say the wrong thing and make Stephanie second-guess her decision. As in any private adoption, Stephanie had the right to change her mind even a few days after the final adoption agreements were signed, and that would be days after her son was born.

The Mathinis told me the call was tense. They didn't want to say the wrong thing and make Stephanie second-guess her decision. As in any private adoption, Stephanie had the right to change her mind even a few days after the final adoption agreements were signed, and that would be days after her son was born.

They said Stephanie also seemed cautious though, but not because they were strangers making a life-changing decision together. It was more like Tara Lee seemed to be controlling what Stephanie said, as if Stephanie had been coached or prepped to seal the deal.

They said Stephanie also seemed cautious though, but not because they were strangers making a life-changing decision together. It was more like Tara Lee seemed to be controlling what Stephanie said, as if Stephanie had been coached or prepped to seal the deal.

They said Stephanie also seemed cautious though, but not because they were strangers making a life-changing decision together. It was more like Tara Lee seemed to be controlling what Stephanie said, as if Stephanie had been coached or prepped to seal the deal.

So Tara Lee created the text chain. Mike sent Tara Lee $13,000, and Teresa and Mike flew home to Atlanta with a mission.

So Tara Lee created the text chain. Mike sent Tara Lee $13,000, and Teresa and Mike flew home to Atlanta with a mission.

So Tara Lee created the text chain. Mike sent Tara Lee $13,000, and Teresa and Mike flew home to Atlanta with a mission.

Mike kept calling and texting Tara Lee, but she wouldn't answer or reply. They'd given her $13,000. The boy they were adopting would be born in a week and they had no contract. Why the hell wouldn't Tara Lee answer her phone? which was when Mike and Teresa got a surprising email from Tara Lee. She'd left the country.

Mike kept calling and texting Tara Lee, but she wouldn't answer or reply. They'd given her $13,000. The boy they were adopting would be born in a week and they had no contract. Why the hell wouldn't Tara Lee answer her phone? which was when Mike and Teresa got a surprising email from Tara Lee. She'd left the country.

Mike kept calling and texting Tara Lee, but she wouldn't answer or reply. They'd given her $13,000. The boy they were adopting would be born in a week and they had no contract. Why the hell wouldn't Tara Lee answer her phone? which was when Mike and Teresa got a surprising email from Tara Lee. She'd left the country.