After my husband’s funeral, I went to my sister’s son’s first birthday party, and she announced, “My son is your husband’s child, so…””Inheritance, I’m going to take half of your $800,000 house.” She even showed me her will. I said, “Oh, I see,” and tried to stifle a laugh. BECAUSE MY HUSBAND…

The morning after Lucas’s birthday party, I drove straight to the bank. Inside our “disaster preparation kit” were Adam’s legitimate will, medical records detailing his vasectomy (making Lucas’s paternity biologically impossible), a journal documenting Cassandra’s inappropriate interactions, and printouts of her texts. There was also a sealed envelope addressed to me in Adam’s handwriting.

“My dearest Bridget, if you are reading this, something has happened to me, and you have needed to access these documents… I hope it is many years from now… But if not, if the worst has happened and she has tried to hurt you in my absence, please know that I tried to prepare for every possibility. Use these documents to protect yourself… I love you beyond words, beyond time. Whatever happens, know that, Adam.”

Tears streamed down my face. My thoughtful husband had anticipated this. I gathered the necessary copies and called James Wilson.