Peter McDonald

But Tara Lee had a gritty authenticity that her clients liked, at least initially. And she seemed to genuinely care about helping the birth mothers. But one thing stuck out. I won't get into the weeds here, but Mike, who works in finance, was puzzled by why Tara Lee wanted $8,000 for Stephanie's expenses.

But Tara Lee had a gritty authenticity that her clients liked, at least initially. And she seemed to genuinely care about helping the birth mothers. But one thing stuck out. I won't get into the weeds here, but Mike, who works in finance, was puzzled by why Tara Lee wanted $8,000 for Stephanie's expenses.

Stephanie's rent, utilities, cell phone, groceries, and transportation amounted to less than $2,000 per month. She was due in two weeks. And by law, they could only support her for six weeks after birth. That was a total of two months, or $4,000. But Tara Lee wanted twice that much. That was a big cushion. But she said she'd return whatever wasn't used. So Mike and Teresa didn't say anything.

Stephanie's rent, utilities, cell phone, groceries, and transportation amounted to less than $2,000 per month. She was due in two weeks. And by law, they could only support her for six weeks after birth. That was a total of two months, or $4,000. But Tara Lee wanted twice that much. That was a big cushion. But she said she'd return whatever wasn't used. So Mike and Teresa didn't say anything.

Stephanie's rent, utilities, cell phone, groceries, and transportation amounted to less than $2,000 per month. She was due in two weeks. And by law, they could only support her for six weeks after birth. That was a total of two months, or $4,000. But Tara Lee wanted twice that much. That was a big cushion. But she said she'd return whatever wasn't used. So Mike and Teresa didn't say anything.

They trusted Tara Lee knew what she was doing. She'd done it so many times. But they'd never adopted. What did they know? Stephanie wasn't due until the end of October. They had three more weeks. At the Metheny's home in Atlanta, Halloween decorations were coming out, leaves were turning, and the nights were growing colder.

They trusted Tara Lee knew what she was doing. She'd done it so many times. But they'd never adopted. What did they know? Stephanie wasn't due until the end of October. They had three more weeks. At the Metheny's home in Atlanta, Halloween decorations were coming out, leaves were turning, and the nights were growing colder.

They trusted Tara Lee knew what she was doing. She'd done it so many times. But they'd never adopted. What did they know? Stephanie wasn't due until the end of October. They had three more weeks. At the Metheny's home in Atlanta, Halloween decorations were coming out, leaves were turning, and the nights were growing colder.

Every day of those three weeks, Teresa and Mike passed by their son's nursery.

Every day of those three weeks, Teresa and Mike passed by their son's nursery.

Every day of those three weeks, Teresa and Mike passed by their son's nursery.

The nursery had been sitting ready for almost two years. But those last few weeks of October seemed to take forever.

The nursery had been sitting ready for almost two years. But those last few weeks of October seemed to take forever.

The nursery had been sitting ready for almost two years. But those last few weeks of October seemed to take forever.

Despite Tara Lee's dysfunction and idiosyncrasies, she was going to change their lives. For years, the Mathenys had watched as other couples started families with apparent ease. The Mathenys had tried to avoid the creeping worry that their nursery might remain empty, that at some sad point in the future, they'd have to take it down. But matching with Stephanie had changed everything.

Despite Tara Lee's dysfunction and idiosyncrasies, she was going to change their lives. For years, the Mathenys had watched as other couples started families with apparent ease. The Mathenys had tried to avoid the creeping worry that their nursery might remain empty, that at some sad point in the future, they'd have to take it down. But matching with Stephanie had changed everything.

Despite Tara Lee's dysfunction and idiosyncrasies, she was going to change their lives. For years, the Mathenys had watched as other couples started families with apparent ease. The Mathenys had tried to avoid the creeping worry that their nursery might remain empty, that at some sad point in the future, they'd have to take it down. But matching with Stephanie had changed everything.

They imagined, now, rocking their son in the nursery, reading to him, changing his diapers, putting him to bed, rushing into his room at 4 a.m. if he cried. cried for them. They were going to be parents. Teresa took maternity leave from her work as a lab tech in the animal sciences department at Georgia State. Mike, a loan officer, would work part-time from the road.

They imagined, now, rocking their son in the nursery, reading to him, changing his diapers, putting him to bed, rushing into his room at 4 a.m. if he cried. cried for them. They were going to be parents. Teresa took maternity leave from her work as a lab tech in the animal sciences department at Georgia State. Mike, a loan officer, would work part-time from the road.

They imagined, now, rocking their son in the nursery, reading to him, changing his diapers, putting him to bed, rushing into his room at 4 a.m. if he cried. cried for them. They were going to be parents. Teresa took maternity leave from her work as a lab tech in the animal sciences department at Georgia State. Mike, a loan officer, would work part-time from the road.