"Ethan, Alf has a fever! Come home now!"

It was 2 a.m. when I called my husband Ethan Badman.

Our son, Alf, had suddenly developed a high fever. Although I had already called an ambulance, the emergency center informed me that all their vehicles were out on calls and they needed to dispatch one from another location. I couldn’t afford to wait, so I contacted Ethan, knowing his office was just ten minutes away.

But instead of Ethan, a soft female voice answered the phone.

“Cynthia, I’m so sorry. Ethie went to register me at the hospital. I’ll make sure he comes home as soon as he’s back.”

I was...