months before, a photograph that hadn’t included his defining feature, was swept away on a tidal wave of pain, joy and then deceit. The birthmark wasn’t big or anything. In fact, she’d thought it cute. It was an integral part of him which she loved along with his cheeky smile and twinkly blue eyes. But Charlie had hated it with a passion. He’d even considered having it removed when he had enough money to pay for the surgery. He was always insistent that any photos had to be taken from what he termed his good side – she knew from experience that he’d only delete any snaps where it featured.
She felt her eyes prick. Even after all this time the thought of his betrayal still hurt. She’d hoped by now she’d be immune to the memory of his two-timing ways, but love wasn’t like that. She didn’t love him anymore. Instead she hated him with every waking breath. But, in the dark recesses and in her dreams, she still remembered how it was. She still remembered how they were. She’d have bet anything that he was genuine and she’d have lost. No. She did lose. She’d lost everything.
The birthmark, she knew it must be important and, after five years of an already exhaustive search there wasn’t going to be much new to go on. But this time it was going to be different. This time she wasn’t going to search for Charlie. This time she was going to expend her energies on trying to find Grace, if only to ask her straight out if she’d been sleeping with her boyfriend. Time was against her. Grace had probably forgotten all about their little friendship but, what the hell. She wasn’t looking for anything apart from the truth and she certainly didn’t need her in her life, not now. All she wanted was to stare her in the face while she asked her the question that had been waiting five years.
What bloke would cheat on a nine months’ pregnant woman with another one? But what other answer could there be?
Chapter 9
Izzy
Friday 27 December, 3.15 p.m. Withybush Hospital
Being in the Midwifery Suite for the first time since losing Alys was right up there with getting a tooth pulled. The last time, she’d left the suite and been escorted to the Mini with a wreath of smiles, Charlie by her side, his knuckles gleaming white as he clutched onto the car seat with both hands. A new baby was a celebration just as a lost baby was a tragedy.
But Alys wasn’t missing, or that’s what Izzy kept trying to tell herself. She’d just lost her way and it was up to the person that loved her the most to find her.
She eventually tracked down Carys, the lead midwife, in her office, a shoebox of a room with breastfeeding posters on the walls. She could tell straight away that she remembered her. But that was hardly surprising. The story had made the front of the South Wales Echo within a day and the front of all the nationals by the end of that first week.
She took her time settling in her seat before lifting her bag onto her lap, more for something to hold onto than anything. Heaving a sigh, she told herself she could do this. She was here to find out about Grace, and she wasn’t leaving until Carys had told her everything she knew.
Five minutes of wrangling and word games later, and Izzy’s temper had started to rise. She didn’t care about patient confidentiality and it wasn’t as if there was anything confidential in the questions she was asking. All she wanted was some clue that could lead her to Grace. She wasn’t fussy – anything would do.
She hadn’t seen Grace since her friend had popped into the hospital with the cutest toy rabbit for Alys. There was no note, no text or message after to let her know she’d upped and left town and Izzy was too tied up with Alys and then her abduction to think anything of it. But now she needed to know and Carys wasn’t prepared to help.
‘But it’s not as if I’m asking you to divulge anything secret. I know she was living in that new block of flats opposite the bus station.’
‘I don’t know anything about that,’ she said, not quite meeting her eye. ‘Have you thought to ask the other women attending the sessions? Maybe they can help.’