‘No, I know I’m in the wrong. I love my daughter more than you can imagine—’
‘More than I can imagine.’ That touched a nerve. All Natalie had ever wanted was her own child and she could imagine the love she’d have given. ‘If you loved your daughter like you say, you wouldn’t lie to her.’
‘And if you told her all this, you’d destroy her. Kyle is her father. You have to let this go.’
‘I have to, do I? Why? Because you said so?’
‘I didn’t mean—’
‘I know what you meant.’
‘Okay, let’s put all our lies on the table. Your friend, Laura, had a fling with Kyle, did you know?’
Natalie’s stomach dropped as she brushed the raindrops into her hair. ‘Yes.’
‘So why didn’t you tell me?’
‘Because you deserve it.’
‘Right. There’s a fair bit you don’t know about Kyle or me. Kyle and I have had a patchy relationship but we always forgive each other.’
‘But he wouldn’t forgive you if he found out Rachel wasn’t his.’
‘I’m sorry. How many more times do I have to say it? I’ll do anything. I’m a shitty person, a disgusting excuse of a friend, but I’m a mother, one who loves her child so much, it hurts. Kyle is her father.’
‘I’ll reserve judgement on that. Show me those DNA results.’
Mary pulled her phone out of her bag and it rang. Kyle’s name on the screen lit up the darkness. ‘I’ve got to go.’
As the woman turned to walk away, Natalie called out. ‘I heard you one night in the beer garden. About a month ago. You were telling someone what you saw on the day baby Jessica disappeared. I know everything.’
Mary stopped under a lamplight, keeping her back to Natalie. ‘If you know what’s good for you, you won’t say a word.’
Natalie sloshed in the puddles until she reached her. Grabbing Mary by the arm, she spun her around. ‘Is that a threat?’
A worried look appeared across Mary’s face and she swallowed. ‘No, you can’t say anything. Promise me, you won’t. Too many people will get hurt. Let that poor baby’s memory rest in peace.’
Peace? Natalie had seen the hurt etched on Kate’s face as she watched her from the shop. The family weren’t at peace and with journalists bringing the story up over and over again, they never would find peace. She went to speak but she couldn’t get her words out. Why would Mary want to keep the secret about Archie? It was like a light bulb moment. ‘Have you been sleeping with Cody, too? Are you trying to protect him?’
Mary’s eyebrows furrowed and her bottom lip trembled. With a shake of her head, she walked away in the rain, leaving Natalie alone. Cody had told her to keep away from Kyle and the Smuggler, but that was a lie. Cody only wanted her to stay away from Mary, nothing more. That woman had him wrapped around her little finger, just like she had with Alan. Natalie thought of Cody’s second wife; a lovely woman who’d brought his daughter up as her own for all these years. How she’d have killed for their life. Cody had everything, a lovely daughter and an all-round great life. Did Cody know what Mary saw and was she helping him to contain the secret? After all, if it was his dad’s fault, keeping a secret that big would turn the whole town against him. It was so easy to blame the baby’s drunken father and leave it at that.
Natalie stared at the sea and roared in frustration. No longer was she going to allow Mary to keep her secrets and she wasn’t going to take threats from her either.
She’d made her decision and she knew what to do next. Doing what was right came with a price and she was ready to pay it.
TWENTY-EIGHT
KATE
Eventually, I find my way back to Looe. After a wrong turn, my phone finally warmed up and came on. I thought about pulling over and calling Damien but what I have to tell him would be better said in person. All this time my dad has been here watching me. A part of me wonders if he’s been drinking again. Why else would he do this?
I carefully drive along the treacherous little roads as rain pelts on the windscreen. Several delayed messages begin to ping up. I keep seeing Damien’s name. A woman steps straight into the road and I brake hard, skidding right up to her. She holds her hands up and shakes her head before continuing.
Stepping out of the car, I shout that I’m sorry but she continues. ‘Hey, you work at the ice-cream shop.’ I snatch the keys from the ignition as I chase after her. ‘Wait, I just want to talk to you.’
She turns and glares at me with watery eyes as she lets out a sob. ‘Kate?’
‘You know who I am? I knew you did when you hid in your shop while I knocked. You know something, don’t you?’
