She wished she’d never mentioned Jessica, but she’d committed now to everything coming out and she’d also promised Kate that she’d help.
‘Imagine it, the precious baby in your arms right now. One minute she’s safe, the next, you turn your back for a second and your baby is gone, forever. That’s what happened to baby Jessica. Your mother kept information about that case hidden all these years, only I heard her telling someone what she knew. Imagine if your baby was killed and someone could have helped the police at the time. Look at your baby and imagine how painful that would be.’ Her voice boomed out.
Rachel stared, a tear drizzling down her cheek.
‘Stop it, Nat. Kate’s father killed that child. It was all his fault. He was drunk. He fell asleep and that child fell into the harbour and got dragged out to sea.’
Natalie could see that Rachel was upset and she hoped that she’d given her enough to think about. Maybe the girl would now order her own DNA test. She knew where to find Natalie when the time was right for her to talk about the situation.
‘Okay, this is going nowhere. Your mother saw Archie disposing of Jess’s hat on Banjo Pier and she clearly told someone else as I overheard her. Those words came out of her own mouth. If she was there, what else did she see? Laura and I visited Archie and he told us everything.’
Mary exhaled. ‘Archie doesn’t know what day it is.’
‘Is that what you’re pinning your hopes on? The truth is already out there.’
‘Rachel, take the baby up, please.’
‘But, Mum…’
‘Just do it.’
‘Shall I get Dad?’
‘No. I need a private word with Nat. I’ve never heard so much bullshit in all my life. Just give me ten minutes, love.’
Rachel grabbed a bottle and began feeding the baby in her arms. ‘If you’re not up in ten minutes, I’m coming back down to check on you.’ She moved across to the door that led upstairs.
‘Why did you have to do that?’ As she said those words, Natalie felt the weight of Mary’s gaze.
‘Why, why? It’s all about you, like it has been forever. You and Alan played me for a fool. Even now, you won’t tell the truth about Rachel. I’m going to the police, to tell them what you said about Archie. Laura thinks I should too.’
‘So, this is all about poor little Laura. Laura the victim. I’m sick to the back teeth of hearing about poor little Laura. I guess now that you’re best buddies you’ll get the sob story. I saw you with her last night, walking by the harbour.’ Mary untied her headscarf and let her hair fall forwards to frame her face.
‘So, that has nothing to do with you. It’s great that I have a real friend to help me through the grief and pain, not like you.’
‘Have you ever stopped to question everyone else’s truth around here? Laura moved here because a bad man is chasing her. We talk, Kyle and me. Yes, I know he had a fling with Laura and he told me everything. I guess you don’t know who Laura was sleeping with when she first moved here. I guess you also don’t know that she lost a baby because of what her ex-husband did to her. You also wouldn’t know how bitter she was when she saw anyone else with a baby. When I was walking Rachel in her pushchair one day, I found Laura walking off with her but did I say anything? No. I felt sorry for the woman. Of course she said she just wanted to hold my baby but I know she wanted to take her. That woman was and still is crazy.’
Natalie’s mind was awhirl with everything. Had the woman she’d left alone in her flat done something to Jess?
‘Oh, she had the briefest of flings with Cody when she moved here. Laura didn’t care that Cody was with someone else. She didn’t care that Kyle was my husband. Laura doesn’t care about anyone but herself. It’s easy to paint me as the bad one, but we all have a bit of bad in us. Life isn’t black and white.’
‘Is Bethany Cody’s daughter?’
With pressed lips, Mary smiled and shrugged. ‘Just when you think you know everything, you realise you know nothing. Please, Nat, stay away from me and my daughter. You’re upsetting everyone. Opening up all these old wounds isn’t good for anyone.’
A sickness churned in Natalie’s stomach as she felt the buzz of her phone. She pulled it from her pocket. Laura was calling. If Laura had accidentally hurt that baby, Cody could have helped cover things up and maybe, just maybe, Archie dropped that hat in the sea to help them. Maybe that poor old man has had to live with the crushing weight of what he kept hidden. Natalie darted out of the pub and inhaled sharply as she stepped onto the pavement.
Glancing back through the window she saw that Rachel was back without the baby and she and her mother seemed to be arguing. Arms up in the air, Mary slamming her hand on the bar, Rachel pointing a finger. She’d started something now and there was no going back. If Kyle found out about that conversation, he’d come to her shop. The man would be upset and angry and Natalie had to have her answers ready for him. In fact, now Rachel knew, it was inevitable.
FORTY-FOUR
KATE
The breeze coming from the sea gives me a chill around the ears but Millie, Rosie and my dad don’t seem to feel it because of all the fun they’re having. I smile as Dad plays with the girls, it’s like he’s become a child again.
‘Do you all want some chips?’ I ask.
‘Yay,’ Rosie screams.
