In Margaret’s absence, her husband Andy kidnapped their four-year-old son Raymond, leaving a note that they had gone fishing in Mexico. He assumed correctly that his marriage had failed, and that Margaret was in love with someone else. He also knew that a divorce judge would surely award his beloved son to his wife, which was the custom about fifty years ago.
Margaret was distraught, and with her new lover went to Mexico on an unsuccessful trip to find her son. Raymond missed his mother, crying for her every night. But Andy was determined to carry out his plan to take his son far from his wife, certain that if he did not that he would never see his son again.
After many years of anguish, Margaret established a career, and lived with her lover who supported her efforts to find Raymond. He grew up, graduated from college and gradually forgot what his mother looked like.
The surprise resolution of the story excites to the end.