"As soon as Adam hands Ian over, I don't want to stay here. I want you to plan a way for me to escape."
"Yes. I've already thought of that. When it's the day before, I'll let you know what to do."
"I've also decided that I want to go to Ireland and try to find my countrymen. I know my family was wiped out, but I want to meet people who lived with them. I'd like you to be with me."
"I've thought about it too. I want to visit your mother's grave."
"But these trips should only be for the two of us."
"I think so too."
"And finally... I think it would be better for everyone if Tayme were sent to boarding school in Avallon. I don't think she should have any influence over her siblings. Despite her young age, she's been doing and saying things that could upset my other children. She lost her innocence when she caught Max with Camille, and I'm afraid that at any minute she's going to tell her brothers in detail what she saw. The boys don't need that information."
"Anna... Are you sure about this? Don't you think she'll be even angrier if we send her away from everything she loves?"
"I'm sure she'll rebel, Dad. But we can't share the same roof with her anymore."
Henry looked thoughtful.
"Since you've made that decision, I'm safe in telling you that she did tell me all the details of what she saw. And she does intend to tell her brothers. She's just waiting for an opportune moment... She looks like a dwarf hiding in a child's body. How could Tayme be so clever? Sometimes she seems like an ordinary child, but suddenly she transforms. There's nothing that's said around her that she doesn't pay attention to. And the way she looks at Ryan..."
"Ryan?" Anna asked puzzled. "Where did she see Ryan?"
"That doesn't matter."
Anna took a deep breath. She didn't want to dwell on the subject, because now that it was decided, her daughter would be protected from Adam's cousin.
"My little girl... I love that little girl very much... But that's why I don't want her to stay. Far away, she may forget what she saw, but there, Max will be a constant reminder of what she saw."
"I understand. I'll send a letter to the boarding school today."
"Bring it so I can say goodbye. Adam won't allow me to go there again."
"I'll bring her. First, I need to know if the school will accept her when she's only three. Or if we'll have to wait..."
"A bribe solves that question."
Henry looked at Anna and smiled.
"There's something I'd like to discuss with you."
"I feel afraid when you say that... Before you say it, why do you really want to leave the house where your grandchildren live?"
Henry looked sideways and backwards in search of inconvenient ears, and was satisfied when he saw that the closest person to them was Ian, and even then, not close enough to hear them.
"I think you and Max need your privacy. You need to look after your family without your grandparents to help. We've decided it's time to take the wheels off and let you get on without us. But don't worry, we've chosen a house near yours. And it has two wings. It's like a castle. Jenna and I will live in one wing, and your mothers-in-law in another."
"I don't think that's necessary... What did Max say?"
"He didn't say anything. He understood."
"I think the children will miss waking you up."
"Yes. But they'll have their parents to wake them up every morning. We didn't mean to, but we ended up stealing moments that belonged to you and Max."
"I don't agree with that, but say what you wanted to say before."
"I'm thinking of reversing the vasectomy."
"Do you want more children?"
"Do you think I'm too old for that? That I'm too old to start another family?"
"Of course not. You should have children that you can raise and have a day-to-day relationship with. And I'd love to have siblings."
"I expected nothing less from you, Anna. If it were anyone else, I'd be worried about the division of inheritance."
"I have my own money, and Mom's inheritance. I can also count on Max's fortune. We don't need your money. You can have more heirs and have them follow in your footsteps."
"I've already made my will. I won't change a single comma of it. But everything I achieve from now on will be put in Jenna's name, so that my children can inherit my sweat. I just want one more child. But it could slip away..."
"Jenna must be happy with your decision."
"She won't know until she's pregnant." Henry said and smiled.
"Dad!" Anna wanted to scold him, but she smiled too. Jenna was in for the biggest fright of her life.
...
As the afternoon wore on, it began to get dark, heralding the arrival of night, and Adam didn't arrive.
Henry stayed with Ian for a while longer, noticing that the boy was distressed by Adam's delay, and after he had distracted himself with the video game, Henry left.
That day, Anna didn't speak to her family. She had dinner with Kate and then went to bed.
She didn't notice when Adam arrived and lay down next to her. She didn't even realize that she was unconscious and snuggled up in his arms.
The days went by quickly, and there was only one week left until the month Ian had promised his father was up. The days went just as smoothly. Anna talked to her children every day at two o'clock in the afternoon. Contrary to what they had planned at first, they decided it would be better to send Tayme to boarding school when they went to pick up Ian. Anna wanted her to have good memories with her.
Max was more patient and affectionate with her than usual. Anna knew that this attention was because Tayme was his favorite daughter.
Kate said goodbye to Anna and everyone there with tears. Anna didn't notice that Adam was subtly pushing all her allies away.