Farewell and New Beginning

‘About damn time,’ Isabel muttered. ‘What?’ ‘Nothing.’ Isabel sat down on the bed. ‘What made you decide to do it?’ ‘I just don’t want Gideon to continue to be part of my life. It’s fine if he just lives on in my head, but it’s starting to affect my family. So I’ll have to let him go.’ ‘You’ve made the right call.’ Isabel squeezed her hand. ‘I’ll arrange a time to start treatment.’ ‘Thank you.’ Kira insisted on going home after the doctors gave her a clean bill of health. She missed the kids terribly. Austyn had to relent. When they were checking out, Martin was led down the hallway by two police officers. Kira almost didn’t recognise him. The man’s cheeks were covered with purpling bruises. His lip was cut and bleeding. His nose seemed to be broken. He glared at Kira from eyes that were almost swollen shut. ‘What’s going to happen to him now?’ Kira asked. ‘Arrested and prosecuted for kidnapping,’ Austyn said, though he’d wanted to do much more to Martin. Back in the room, he had been