Page 97 - The Last Gift

Just knowing that Jacob had sent flowers,
that he was still alive, that he knew of things
there, gave her strength. This knowledge also
gave her courage, and she determined she would
divorce Matthew. She was petrified to tell him
that she was pregnant again, but she was even
more afraid that her sons would grow up to be
like him. John was seven and had already
exhibited signs of being a school bully, acting out
what he had seen from his father.

She was ashamed she hadn’t left Matthew
the first time he struck John. John was only two
and was crying and Matthew hit him for it.
When she threatened to call the police, Matthew
became angry and threatened her, but eventually
became scared and cried and promised that it
wouldn’t happen again. But it did happen again,

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