After a 12-hour shift, I found my son eating cold rice while my mother-in-law’s family devoured the $300 lobsters I bought. When my son saved me a floor-fallen scrap, I took him and left. By morning, they were begging me to undo the financial ruin.

“Cook these for dinner,” she said. “Make sure Leo eats well.”

Leo was her five-year-old son.

When Lauren came home late, Ryan, Carol, and Megan had eaten everything. Megan laughed that she ate two lobsters herself.

Lauren asked if Leo had eaten.

Carol shrugged. “I gave him rice and eggs.”

Then Lauren asked about her plate.

In the kitchen, she found only a hollow lobster head, tap water, and one stale tortilla. Gourmetseafood subscription

Then Leo appeared in his pajamas.

“Mommy, don’t cry,” he whispered.

In his tiny hand was a dirty little piece of lobster meat.