---- Told him to keep tabs on them. If things spiraled, get that kid out-anything was better than dying in that house. Even an orphanage. Outside, I stood in the sun's warmth. 'Nadine... kids are innocent. But the ones who hurt you? They've paid.' eK Six months later, I heard about Gerard and Peggy again. My assistant dropped a stack of reports on my desk -his expression said it all. Peggy had completely unraveled. She'd been abusing the kid and even started turning on herself. Gerard? He was stuck in some delusion, clinging ---- to a photo of me like it was all still real, telling people I was still his wife. Then one day, Peggy finally snapped. She stabbed Gerard-right in the chest. And when she turned on the girl, my assistant had already called it in. Cops busted in just in time to save her from her own mother. Gerard didn't make it. He died with my name on his lips. Peggy lost what little grip she had left. Now she screamed my name nonstop in a psych ward. And me? I went back to visit Nadine's grave. ---- "Nadine," I whispered, "I'm finally ready to be happy again. So come back to Mommy soon."