Vivian Jacobson is distraught to be pregnant again. Already drowning in the demands of her four young children, she can’t imagine adding a fifth to her

brood. Her husband Mel is a devoted partner, but he is away working long days in his family’s Maxwell Street tavern—leaving Vivian isolated and overwhelmed in their

suburban Chicago home. Vivian pleads with Mel to let her ask her trusted obstetrician for an abortion. He reluctantly agrees. 

 

Vivian’s doctor won’t risk his license, instead, he refers her to someone who will. Once she finds herself in the sleazy abortionist’s makeshift flat, Vivian can’t go through with the procedure. As she flees, the man warns her that the clock is ticking: If she wants this abortion, she must return within one week. 

 

As she struggles with what to do, she is rocked by a series of revelations, including her Jewish immigrant mother’s parallel secret. Ultimately, Vivian must find the courage to make the decision that is best for her family—and for her own fulfillment.

​

Forthcoming April 14, 2026 from She Writes Press, distributed by Simon & Schuster.