‘Why did you say that, Amanda? Nothing is going to happen to Shay.’ My panicked voice shouts down the line.
‘I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have said that, Laura. I didn’t mean to upset you, I wasn’t thinking.’
Holding my hand over my thumping heart, I try to slow down the fear that has erupted inside me. My mouth dries up. I listen to her asking me to forgive her. When I finally find the ability to speak, I tell her I have to go, I’ll ring her tomorrow.
* * *
There are no stars in the sky tonight. A big window of darkness hangs above my head just like my soul. The fright I got when Amanda mentioned something happening to Shay suctioned all the excitement and energy out of me. She knows she should never have said that. Not to me, not after what happened.
Turning away from the vastness, I watch the crib. Little Shay is dreaming sweet dreams. I will do everything to protect you, Shay. Mammy will always be here for you. I toss and turn a little more before allowing Amanda’s words to take hold. What if someone does have it in for me? What if someone has found out what I did? Switching on the bedside light, I grab the notebook and pen from the drawer and flick through the pages until I find a blank one. My hand trembles. I begin my list.
Chapter Twelve
Olive is top of my list. The disgruntled ex. Revenge for taking her man. She also could have taken the card back when she called that morning before anyone got to see the evidence. But then, why is she being so nice to me? Abbie is also on my list. She wasn’t at all happy I’d broken up the happy foursome who did everything together. Apparently Conor and Olive, and Noel and Abbie, were the best of friends until I came along and gatecrashed their party. Abbie was also in the house the morning the card disappeared. Maggie was there too but there’s no way she did it. Not his mother.
The only other possibility on my list is a disgruntled employee: given the number of people working at the brewery, it’s possible Conor may have pissed off one of them. And Pat? I can’t really see Pat sending the card, but he wouldn’t come into the house the other day when he saw Conor inside. For some unknown reason Pat didn’t want to meet him, which was odd. I’ve also written someone from my past on the list. I hope Amanda doesn’t give out to me when she sees it there because I’m supposed to be letting go of my past. But it’s not letting go of me.
* * *
The village is quieter than usual. I get a parking spot right outside Georgina’s hair salon. Shay was on his best behaviour this morning, making it easier for me to leave him. I’d feel bad leaving if he was crying. Conor had looked comfortable holding the little bundle as he waved me off.
‘Take your time,’ he had said. ‘We’re fine here.’
I had smiled at them both, blowing kisses before driving away, Amanda’s words still hovering on the perimeter of my nerves. What if something happened to Shay?
Georgina is behind the reception desk when I step inside. Her attitude a little less sarcastic than yesterday. Maybe she was just joking.
‘Good morning Laura. How’s the baby?’
‘He’s doing just fine. Conor is with him.’
An older woman is sitting at the first station. A young girl – who I now know is fully qualified – is putting rollers in her hair. Beside her, a middle-aged lady is trimming the end of a long black veil of dark wet hair.
‘Can I take your coat?’ Georgina says, leading me to the washbasin at the back of the salon.
‘This is a lovely place you have,’ I say, trying my best to come over as an absolute darling. Hairdressers have a lot of clout with their clients. Especially in a place like this. Whatever she says about me when I’m gone is liable to stick.
‘Thank you, we like it.’ She babbles on about how she remodelled it the previous year and some other stuff. I nod, appearing interested until my attention is dragged to the young woman with the long black hair at the second station. She’s staring at me in the mirror and it’s freaking me out a bit.
‘Chloe.’ Georgina calls through a door beside the washbasins