Page 100 of The Husband Diet
On the landing, he grabbed my arms.
‘It’s Maxine! She’s called the police and Ira’s under their custody. Maddy’s with her and they’re on their way over with a squad car!’
I covered my mouth with my hands.My baby was coming home!
When she came in through the door, whimpering ‘Mommy, Mommy!’, I couldn’t keep my tears back any longer, clawing at her, squeezing her so tight I thought I’d break her.
‘Baby!’ was all I could say over and over for the first few minutes. Then I cleared her face of her pretty reddish-blonde curls and whispered, ‘It’s alright, Maddy. Mommy’s here and I’m never going to let anything happen to you, OK?’
She nodded fiercely and threw her little arms around me again. ‘Maxine bought me some toys. She said she was going to take me home because Daddy was crazy again.’
Warren threw himself at us and I caught a glimpse of Maxine in the corner, talking to some police officers. Her stomach was huge now.
Julian watched us, his eyes shiny and red. Maddy looked up, noticing him.
‘Hey, sweetie pie,’ he whispered, and she flew into his arms, burying her face in his stomach as he bent to kiss the top of her head, whispering comforting words to her before lifting her. And she rested her head against his, just happy to be there.
‘I’m glad Maxine didn’t forget your number, after all,’ I muttered, wiping my eyes.
Maxine whispered, ‘I’m so sorry. I didn’t know he’dabductedher. He said you and Julian were going away somewhere. He said you were on better terms now and—’
‘It’s OK, Maxine. Really.’ I nodded at her, indicating the sofa for her to sit down.
I wasn’t angry at her anymore, because now she was a victim, too, and I was just grateful she’d brought my daughter back to me before Ira became dangerous again.
‘I don’t know what happened to him,’ she sniffed as she slowly lowered herself next to me. ‘One minute he was fine and the next, he just lost it because we had to go to the bathroom. Only then did I realize that something was very wrong. He’d changed practically overnight, mentioning debts and the IRS being on his case. And then I knew it was dangerous for us to stay with him. So I locked Maddy and myself in the bathroom at a gas station and called the police.’
‘You saved my baby’s life. Thank you,’ I whispered. ‘And I’m sorry that you had to go through that. Ira isn’t the man he was when I met him twelve years ago.’
She looked up into my face. ‘I’m so, so sorry for what we did to you. It was wrong. I thought you were the bad one. He kept saying that you were a horrible mother and wife, and I believed him. But I didn’t know that the money was yours.’
‘It’s OK, Maxine,’ I repeated, wondering how I could ever repay her for what she’d done.
*
‘I need to speak to him,’ I said to the detective as Ira was ushered into a private office, paler, scrawnier and skinnier than he’d ever been.
There was a strange light in his eyes that I didn’t recognize and it scared me. The Ira I knew, I could handle. This Ira was someone I’d never seen before.
‘Yes, ma’am. There will be an officer in there with you at all times for your safety.’
‘Do you want me to come in with you?’ Julian asked softly.
‘I can do it, thanks.’
He nodded and whispered, ‘That’s my girl.’
I smiled wanly and sat in the chair facing the bullet proof glass. But it sure wasn’t hatred- proof. I hated him so much, I was trembling, but I had something to say to him.
‘Maxine never wants to see you again, ever. Neither do I, or my children. If and when you ever get out of here, I suggest you steer clear of us, because with one phone call, you’ll be back here – for good,’ I informed him and turned on my heel.
*
That night, after my family had come and quickly gone, as they always did when I was in trouble, I turned to Julian as he was climbing into his jacket.
‘Julian, I don’t want you to have to leave every night. I want you to be a part of this family.’
In response, he took my face in his hands and bent to kiss me on the lips. ‘It’s not an April Fool’s joke, is it?’ he asked. ‘Are you serious?’
