SHADOW OF A RECLUSE 

By Tessa Harvey


    A little discouraged but not overly so, after all his wife had a baby to manage, Tarrant had been given enough money to get home.
    He walked into his home, anxious and overjoyed to see his family again.
    In prison, he had kept expecting to see them, but Sylvie had said prison is no place for a baby. His other children always seemed to be busy or away at friends' places. Of course, there was school.
    He walked through the door of his house, gleeful and happy. John had rushed over, throwing his small arms around him. "Daddy! Daddy!" He was crying with happiness.
    Anneke, his daughter was tense and nervous, but reached out to him anyway.
Sylvie looked at him over their heads. She looked embarrassed and a little defensive. There were boxes and cases all around, a jumble of toys, clothes, plates, pots, pans. Signs of hurried packing, snacks scattered around.
    "Are we going away? Is it a holiday because I am home?" His brother, Hunter strode in. "We go, you say," he replied smugly. 

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