do this. Would she? No one could despise me enough to send a card like that.
But if the card wasn’t sent to upset me, then someone out there thinks Conor did it. That my husband killed Vicky Murphy. But that’s impossible. Conor was with me the night she was killed. All night. And while I haven’t known him that long – only a little over a year – it was some year. Moving house, getting married, having Shay. We’ve done a lot together. I got to know Conor and the more I did, the deeper I fell in love with him. I think I would have noticed if he was capable of murder.
I read the card again and check the envelope to look for a clue. But there is none. My heart is thumping hard in my chest, and the thought occurs to me that it might just be a sick prank. One of the lads from the club. They’re always playing the worst tricks on each other. But I don’t think so. Not the day I come out of hospital with Conor’s son. No, this is not a prank. This is not funny at all. This card was sent to upset me… or to warn me.
* * *
The sound of the key turning in the hall door disturbs the silence. Quick, hide it. I don’t want Conor to see it. If he sees that card, what he has described as the best day of his life will be ruined. Pushing the card back into the envelope, I shove it between the other cards and place them on the counter under a magazine.
The stress of it all has me gasping for air when Conor bursts into the room swinging a shopping bag.
‘Daddy to the rescue,’ he says, rushing over to Shay and glancing into the crib before turning to look at me.
‘Are you alright, Laura? You look like you’ve seen a ghost.’ Conor walks over to me and puts his arms around me. His body feels warm. ‘You’re shaking, babe… are you okay?’
No, I’m not okay, but I can’t say this. I can’t let him know about that card. Whoever sent this is not going to ruin this moment…
‘I’m… I’m okay, just a bit of pain.’ I watch his face, looking for any sign of stress or worry. If he’s hiding something behind that electric smile that hasn’t left his face all day, he’s doing a good job of it. ‘I think I need to take some more painkillers.’ God, I wish I had some real drugs. ‘But first let’s get this nappy on this little man.’
* * *
When Shay settles I find my bag and swallow two of the prescribed pills. ‘Only if you need them,’ the doctor said, ‘because they will make you drowsy.’ I need them and I hope they make me drowsy. Getting the vision of that card out of my head is what I want to do right now.
Conor calls down over the bannisters, completely unaware that someone is trying to sabotage our happiness. ‘I’m running the bath for you, Laura.’
Putting the bag down to follow him upstairs, I take the container of pills out and put them in my pocket. I’m sure if the doctor knew what just happened, he’d tell me to fire away. ‘As many as you need, Laura.’
The water is hot, stinging. I lower myself into the bath. It’s one of those fancy ones where you can push buttons and the water massages you from different angles. Like a jacuzzi, but smaller. I won’t be pushing any buttons today.
Holding my breath, I dunk my head. Now I’m totally submerged, hoping to relax, but my mind is trying to make sense of that card. I should have known this was all too good to be true. That it was only a matter of time before karma would find me.
Chapter Four
I don’t remember going to bed. That extra pill certainly did the trick. Opening my eyes, I stare at the dark sky above my head. Conor had a skylight the width of the room installed above the bed. He loves to look at the sky at night and I have to admit, I find it very relaxing. Pain in the ass when the sun beats down on you first thing in the morning during the summer but Conor says he’ll have an electric blind installed before summer comes around again.
Three stars above my head. That’s all I can see. The moon is out