are they?’ the other woman asks.
‘Four and a half months, just about,’ Stephanie answers, wondering absently where the woman’s own kids are. She doesn’t appear to have any with her. Why is she here at the sandpit, then? Stephanie looks at her more closely. She’s very pretty, with blonde hair in a loose ponytail, snug jeans, and a smart blouse. Stephanie is suddenly aware of her own untidy hair, the spit-up on her T-shirt, and the fact that she’s still wearing maternity jeans. It’s going to be a while before she gets her body back, and she has a momentary twinge of jealousy, even regret, looking at the trim, attractive woman in front of her. But then she glances at her babies, and she doesn’t care what she looks like. It’s totally worth it to have Emma and Jackie. They’re everything to her. So what if she’s put on a few pounds?
‘Twins are so cute,’ the woman says.
Stephanie nods. ‘Yes, twice as cute and twice as exhausting,’ she says ruefully.
‘My sister has twins,’ the woman says. ‘Her husband is a lawyer, and he says it’s like serving your sentence concurrently rather than consecutively.’
They laugh. ‘Do you live around here?’ Stephanie asks, curious.
‘Not yet. My husband and I are looking. I thought I’d walk around and check out the neighbourhood and shops and hang out in the parks and coffee shops a bit before we buy. I don’t think you should just fall in love with a house without knowing what you’re getting into, the bigger picture.’
‘No,’ Stephanie agrees, although that’s what they had done – looked at the house, fallen in love with it, and taken everything the real estate agent had told them about the neighbourhood as gospel. Fortunately, they have been happy here.
‘How long have you lived here?’ the woman asks.
‘About two years,’ Stephanie tells her. ‘We moved in right after we got married.’ She notices that the other woman isn’t wearing a wedding ring.
‘And you like it here?’
‘Oh yes, we love it. It’s been great.’
At that moment, the other woman takes out her phone and the pleasant expression seems to disappear momentarily from her face as she types a brief message.
‘A problem?’ Stephanie asks lightly.
‘No, not really,’ the woman says, and looks up at her again, smiling, as her phone rings. ‘Nothing I can’t handle.’
Patrick can’t stop thinking about Erica and his situation. It creeps into his mind every minute, even when he’s talking to a client. He checks his messages obsessively, but there’s been no word from Erica. He needs to deal with this. Get it over with.
Finally, a text comes in from Erica.
Call me
He stares at his phone. He realizes he’s clenching his jaw tight; his entire body is tense. Is this the right thing to do? Does he dare call her bluff? He has a terrible moment of doubt. It’s her word against his. And she’s such a brilliant liar.
He calls her cell. ‘Erica?’
‘Yes.’
He says, ‘I’ve told Stephanie everything. And she’s agreed – we’re not going to pay you a dime.’
He waits for her response. When it comes, it’s not what he was expecting.
CHAPTER TWELVE
SHE DISCONNECTS. Then he gets the ping of a text message.
I’m at the park, talking to your wife. The twins look like you.
Patrick feels dizzy, as if all the blood has left his head. For a moment he can’t think at all. Then his mind clears and the thoughts come quickly. Would Erica harm Stephanie and the babies? She’s not violent – as far as he knows. But she is manipulative. She knows this is going to get to him – that’s why she’s done it. She must have followed Stephanie when she left the house. He realizes that his breathing is irregular and tells himself he must calm down. He takes a deep breath, in and out, and again, staring at the message, trying to figure out what to do.
His phone pings again.
I really think your wife and I could be friends.
And attached to the text is a photo. Of Stephanie and the twins, sitting on a blanket. Stephanie is turned away, lifting one of the smiling babies, probably unaware of the photo being taken. Does Stephanie know who she’s talking to? He texts his wife urgently.
It’s her. You’re talking to Erica. She just sent me a picture of you. Take the babies and get away from her!
But he gets no answer. The lack of a response is maddening. He’d told Stephanie to keep her phone close. Has she