After I choked my way through the story, his voice came back through the receiver, shaking with fury.
"Thaddeus! He actually dared!"
"I'm sending a plane for you tomorrow night. Until then, do not make any sudden moves. Don't give Thaddeus any reason to suspect anything. Leave the rest to me."
After I hung up, I put the study back exactly the way I'd found it, returned to the bedroom, and lay down as though nothing had happened.
The next morning, Thaddeus was already gone by the time I woke up.
After lunch, Marilyn sat quietly at her little desk, drawing something.
I walked over to look, and she held up her picture like a treasure she couldn't wait to show off.
"Mommy, look! I drew our family."
"See? This is Daddy, this is Mommy, and this is me."
Looking at her face, my vision blurred with tears.
My sweet Marilyn. Her whole world was nothing but Mommy and Daddy. How could Thaddeus have had the heart to do what he did?
Just then, Thaddeus walked into the room.
"There's a banquet tonight. Let's all go together as a family."
I was about to shake my head and refuse, but he pulled me gently into his arms.
"Today my probation period is officially over. From now on, we're a family again."