After changing clothes in the garage, he walked into the house, and went directly to their room. He sat down on the bed and gently brushed her hair away from her face. "Mardi," he said.
Her eyes fluttered. "Bruce, what time is it?" she slurred, the effects of the sleeping pill not quite out of her system.
"It's early yet, don't worry." She sat up and embraced him. He held her close and waited. It wouldn't be long now. He smiled as the phone rang. "Hello?" he answered and listened as the young officer relayed the news of his daughter's safe return in the early hours of the morning. "Thank you. We'll be waiting." He hung the phone up and looked at his wife. "That was the police. They're bringing Isabella home."
"How?" she breathed.
"They did their job," he told her. Then she broke down, allowing herself the luxury of tears she couldn't before.
Later, she sat at the window seat in Isabella's room just watching the young girl sleep. She was still under the influence of the drugs, though the doctor assured them she would awaken soon and it would be safer to let her work them out of her system naturally. The sun had come up and the bright dawn sparkled brilliantly against the ice-covered world.
Bruce entered the room and walked over to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. She looked up at him. "You would have paid, wouldn't you?" she asked him in an odd voice.
"Of course. I would have done anything to get her back."
"You know I never wanted to be a mother," she shook her head. "But now, if anything happened to her, I don't think I could go on. I think I would just…stop being."
"Nothing's ever going to happen to her."
She shook her head and frowned. "This all happened because I'm a terrible mother. I don't spend enough time with her. If I didn't work so much…"
"You'd be miserable," he stopped her self-flagellation. "You love working. It keeps you independent and happy. You spend plenty of time with her. What happened was the result of greed and nothing else. Don't ever forget that."
Just then Isabella started tossing about and called out, "Mommy!"
Mardi darted up and flew to her side. "I'm here baby." She pulled her into her arms.
"Mommy, I had a bad dream," Isabella cried sleepily. "I was at school and you picked me up, but it wasn't you and I was so scared."
"A dream?" Mardi asked, looking across to Bruce, a strange sense of hope on her face.
Isabella nodded and sat back, wiping her face. "I know I'm a big girl, dreams can't hurt me."
"No, sweetheart," Mardi said, caressing her hair. "Dreams can't hurt you." She begged Bruce with her eyes."
He moved closer to the bed. "That's right."
"Daddy!" Isabella jumped to her feet and sprang into his arms. "Good morning!"
"Good morning to you to. Since you are such a big girl, how about some waffles for breakfast?"
"You're making? Oh boy! Wait," her face fell, "what about school?"
"Well," Mardi said, "there was a bad ice storm last night, and they've cancelled school for the day. I'm not going into work, either."
"Really?"
"Really."
"Yippee!" she squealed and jumped on the bed. "Can we go outside and play?"
"You bet. Now, I believe the man said something about waffles."
Isabella hopped down and ran out the door. Mardi and Bruce followed at a more sedate pace. He placed his arm around her waist. "Are you sure it's a good idea to let her believe it was nothing more than a dream?"
"Instead of a lifetime of fear and self-doubt? An absolutely spectacular idea. Please don't fight me on this," she pleaded.
He kissed the top of her head. "The ends justify the means?" he murmured into her hair and hugged her closer.
"Yes," she whispered and he couldn't agree more.
At the end of the hall Isabella beckoned them. "Come on! I'm hungry!"
"Coming sweetheart."
The end.