“You could have told me.”
“He said you’d get hurt if you knew.”
I held my son against me.
For the first time in weeks, I could feel him breathing without restraint.
“Listen to me,” I whispered. “You never have to sacrifice yourself to protect me. Not from your father. Not from anyone.”
He nodded against my shoulder.
Then he pulled away and reached into his backpack.
“I brought it.”
He took out a small digital recorder.
The original recording.
Margaret’s expression changed the moment she saw it.
“Tyler, where did you find that?”
“In Grandpa’s desk. Dad thought he’d thrown everything away, but he never checked the lower drawer.”
“Have you listened to it?”
Tyler nodded.
“That’s why I knew I had to leave.”
Margaret called the appropriate authorities and contacted the independent trustee. The recording was secured, and copies were made for the lawyers and investigators.
