Page 91 of The Stolen Child

‘Remember that night in the Grove when the four of us went on a double date?’

Sally nodded. It was early in their romance, and she’d been excited to introduce Ian to her friends. Also, it was their only double date. It hadn’t been a success.

‘Ian’s face when he clocked eyes on Reggie. I’ll never forget it. It was like he’d seen a ghost. I asked Reggie about it, later that night, but he told me to leave it.’

Sally exhaled, trying to understand where this was going.

‘When you guys got married, Reggie laughed when I told him he wasn’t invited. He said he wasn’t surprised, but wouldn’t tell me why, other than to say, “You wait and see. Baldwin will stop Sally seeing us both next.” Well, he was right about that, wasn’t he?’

Sally flushed, hating the fact that she was the topic of conversation with her friends. ‘Why are you telling me all of this now?’ She looked at her watch again, sweat prickling under her armpits.

‘Reggie finally told me last week why Ian was so hot and bothered about him.’ Elsie’s eyes narrowed. ‘Your Ian was worried that Reggie would out him.’

‘Out him for what?’ Sally asked.

‘Ian is on the payroll for Reggie’s boss. He’s corrupt.’

Sally’s heart began to race as she tried to compute Elsie’s words. ‘That doesn’t make sense. Ian always does things by the book.’

Elsie raised her eyebrows, then asked, ‘Have you ever wondered how he managed to buy that house of yours on a DS salary?’

Sally frowned. ‘He did what most people do. He got a mortgage from a bank.’

‘Or he paid for it in cash,’ Elsie said pointedly. ‘You ever see how much money he has in his bank account?’

Sally felt alarm bells ringing in her head. She’d given up asking Ian about their finances, because it invariably caused an argument.

‘Look, I know Reggie ain’t no angel. As I told you, that’s why I decided to move on from him. But he’s not a cruel man. I trust him.’ She breathed in deeply and her voice softened. ‘When I told him that I was worried about you, he said that I should be worried. That Baldwin is a nasty bugger. I believe him, and you should too.’

Sally pulled Zach into her arms again, taking comfort from his soft body as he nestled close to her. How could something so beautiful as Zach come from someone as horrible as Ian? Her head swam with it all. ‘Thank you for telling me this, but I’ve got to go, Elsie.’

‘Think about what I said, Sally. Be on your guard – that’s all I’m saying.’

Sally squeezed her friend’s hand quickly. ‘I’m happy I saw you today. More than you could know. I’ve missed you so much.’ Her mind began racing through possibilities of how she might see Elsie before she left for Spain. ‘I’m going to Nicola’s for a wash and blow-dry on Saturday. Ian and I are invited to a work dinner dance. Could you be at the salon for two o’clock? It would give us a chance to continue chatting. I’d like to say a proper goodbye before you leave.’

‘A great idea. It will be like old times, back in the salon with you and Nicola again.’

Sally stood up, clipping Zach into his pram, then rearranging the soft blue blanket over his legs, tucking it in tightly. He was forever kicking it off.

Sally turned to Elsie, a frown creasing her forehead. ‘I’ll try to get the bus, but Ian might insist on dropping me over. And if he sees you at the salon, he’ll come in and wait for me there. We won’t get to chat.’

‘No problem. I’ll hide in the back room until he’s gone.’

With one last hug, Sally hurried home. And she didn’t feel so alone any more. Elsie would find a way to help her.

NOW

August 2023

Kimberly

Gardiner Street Apartments, Dublin

Kimberly’s apartment looked completely different from how it used to when she and Robert lived there in 1981. After her divorce from Jason, they sold their family home. Jason bought his fixer-upper in Phibsborough, and Kimberly decided to return to her first home in Dublin, the flat in Gardiner Street. Jason and she still owned the complex, and Kimberly had felt compelled to move back in. She’d gutted it, knocking walls down and making one large reception room with a stunning primary suite.

And now, for the first time in forty years, her family were reunited again in this apartment.

Kimberly surveyed the room, taking in Jason, Lily and Zach, who sat on her L-shaped cream sofa. Kimberly had insisted that it be only the four of them. Jason’s father, Kevin, was so objectionable, always finding fault with her. While she adored her little grandson, she didn’t want any distractions today, so Michael and Ben stayed home too. Just thinking about Ben made Kimberly smile. He was her happy place. When he was in her arms, every worry and stress melted away.