Page 52 of The Girl in the Woods

‘Oh, I know. It’s 24 Queens Court.’

‘That’s right opposite my block,’ said Ana, feigning surprise. ‘I’ll pop by this evening. Is seven okay?’ Or are you seeing him?

‘Yeah, that’s fine.’

‘Great, see you later.’ Ana clicked off her phone and stared at it for a few seconds, at last, some headway.

The CCTV footage showed nothing. If Ana was expecting something to jump out at her, she was disappointed. Still, she had forty-eight hours. It gave her enough time.

CHAPTER THIRTY-ONE

SEVEN YEARS EARLIER

It had been a week, and Laurie still hadn’t decided what to do. So many things ran through her mind. If she had the baby, her life would be over. Fifteen years old, and she had no real future ahead of her.

What if she hated it when it was born? Supposing it looked like him? The memory of that day would be relived in her mind every time she looked at her child.

There was only one thing to do, and that was to speak with her mum. Trying to carry the burden alone was too much. Surely, she would know what to do. With her mind on the baby, she turned into her street and stopped abruptly. It felt like an invisible hand had suddenly pushed against her chest, preventing her from going forward.

An ambulance was parked outside their house. A man was sitting on the front step, his head in his hands. Several neighbours were outside watching. Then, as she drew closer, forcing herself through the invisible barrier, she saw that the man on the step was Arthur and sitting beside him was Anika.

‘Oh, no,’ she groaned. ‘Arthur?’

He looked up, his face white and drawn. Laurie took one look at his red eyes and tear-stained cheeks and knew.

‘Mum?’ she said, her voice barely audible.

‘Oh, my lovely,’ said Anika, wrapping her in her warm arms. The smell of curry wafted from her clothes, and Laurie breathed it in deeply. If she could stay here, then maybe nothing would change.

‘She won’t go to the hospital. Maybe you can get her to change her mind,’ said Arthur, breaking into Laurie’s security blanket.

Laurie pulled herself out of Anika’s embrace and rushed into the house, where the paramedics were coming down the stairs.

‘I’m her daughter,’ Laurie said breathlessly. ‘You need to take her to the hospital.’

The paramedic looked at her sympathetically. ‘We’ve tried our best. I’m sorry, but she won’t go.’

Laurie rushed past them and up the stairs where her mother lay in her darkened bedroom. The room stank of stale alcohol and unwashed bed sheets. The air was muggy and putrid. Laurie pulled her eyes away from the bin that was full of blood-stained tissues and went to draw back the curtains.

‘Laurie,’ Brenda said weakly.

‘Let me open the curtains,’ Laurie said.

‘No, it’s too bright,’ said Brenda, her voice hoarse.

‘What the fuck?’ Laurie said, weeping. ‘I thought Arthur was looking after you.’ There was a painful ache in Laurie’s chest. I’ve let her down, she thought. I’ve not been here when she’s needed me.

‘He’s a man, don’t blame him or yourself. I never wanted either of you to know the truth.’

Laurie tried to straighten the bedclothes but couldn’t see what she was doing through her tears. ‘I would have looked after you.’

Brenda shook her head. ‘You’re too young.’

Laurie stroked Brenda’s thin hair and wiped her watery eyes with a tissue.

‘Two pills,’ whispered Brenda. ‘The pain–’

Laurie strained to see the bedside cabinet. Several bottles of pills were lying amongst an assortment of tissues and half mugs of cold tea.

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