‘How’s the baby doing?’
Imelda narrowed her eyes. Her hand protectively going to her stomach. She seemed awkward. As if talking about her own baby would only upset Shelby further.
‘The police said that they’d seen you go in for a check-up. I know that we are due the same time… I thought maybe…’ Shelby said, seeing the strained look on Imelda’s face and worrying she’d said something she shouldn’t. That perhaps the baby wasn’t okay.
‘Why would the police know that I was at the hospital? Why would they tell you that?’ Imelda said, looking suddenly stricken then. Put out, as if her privacy had been invaded.
‘They went through all the security footage,’ Shelby said. ‘They were eliminating people from their enquiries.’
‘It was nothing. I had a few twinges that’s all, and I haven’t been feeling well. I just wanted to get checked out, but then I felt bad, you know. I thought I was probably just wasting the midwife’s time. So, I left…’
Shelby frowned, eyeing Imelda suspiciously. Her friend was lying. Diverting her eyes and stuttering her words ever so slightly as she spoke. She narrowed her eyes then before saying what she’d suspected all along.
‘You made it up, didn’t you? You made up that you thought you were in labour.’
Imelda’s cheeks flushed a hot red in answer to being caught out.
‘You don’t have to lie, Imelda. I know what you did… I get it.’
Imelda scanned the balcony once more. As if she was checking that Shelby was truly alone. Convinced that she wouldn’t be. Convinced that someone else was out there hiding too.
‘Hey, chill out. I won’t tell!’ Shelby laughed then, seeing Imelda’s look of alarm. ‘You came to see how I was doing, didn’t you? Only what? They wouldn’t let you in?’ Shelby rolled her eyes. ‘It’s a strict family only policy… which is a shame because I could have done with them not letting Ashley in. That man…’ Shelby spat, unable to hide the bitterness from her tone.
‘Ashley. Why? Is he okay? Are you two okay?’
‘Not really, no. It’s a long story,’ Shelby said, shivering as the cold swept over her then. ‘I should have brought a coat, only I left in such a hurry,’ she said, hinting for Imelda to invite her inside. Only Imelda didn’t move and she didn’t offer.
‘I snuck out when Mum and Dad were distracted, having another one of their “animated discussions” as they like to call them. To you and me, it’s a full-on row. My dad paid a ransom to get Riley back. Can you believe it? He didn’t even tell me. God, they’re doing my head in. I mean I know that they are suffering too. Riley is their grandchild but…’
‘Look, I’m sorry, Shelby. Really, I am. For everything you’re going through, but I was just off to bed. And like I said, I’m still not feeling great.’ Imelda placed her hand over her mouth and feigned a cough. ‘I don’t want to pass anything on…’
Shelby nodded, realising that she was unwelcome here. ‘Oh right. Well, I just thought I’d check on you while I was here. Say hi!’ Shelby thought that she wouldn’t bother again. Imelda clearly wasn’t the friend that Shelby thought she was.
‘I’ll see you around some time.’ She turned to leave – and caught the sound of a tiny sneeze and a murmur.
‘What was that?’ Shelby laughed, thinking at first Imelda had made the strange noise as she feigned another coughing fit. Only she didn’t manage to cover the sound up, and the look of horror that spread over the woman’s face made Shelby realise that maybe there was more to why Imelda wasn’t inviting her in.
‘Oh! You’ve got company?’ Shelby said, raising her eye and giving Imelda a curious smirk, thinking that maybe Imelda had patched things up with her ex. And that was why she was so eager to get rid of Shelby. She’d caught them both at a bad time.
‘No. It’s the telly. I’m watching One Born Every Minute. Though I shouldn’t really. It’s like a form of torture, isn’t it? When I’ll have to go through it soon too …’ Imelda said, babbling now.
Which made Shelby suspect that the woman was still lying. And for some reason she really didn’t want Shelby to know who she had in there.
‘Right, well, I’ll see you around,’ Imelda said quickly as they both heard the faint sound of a baby’s cry.
Not from the telly, Shelby realised. The noise was coming from the little room just off the hallway. The nursery?
Imelda closed the front door quickly then; only she wasn’t quick enough. Shelby managed to wedge her foot in the gap between the frame and the door. Every instinct in her body screaming at her that something wasn’t right. That the noise couldn’t be what she thought. What she hoped.
‘What was that?’ Shelby said, glaring at the woman incredulously before shaking her head as the terrifying realisation dawned on her.
‘No. No! That can’t be…’ Shelby said, pushing her way into the flat now and not taking no for an answer.
Imelda was hiding something. Or more importantly someone. Riley?
48
Pushing her way into the room, Shelby’s eyes scanned the beautifully decorated nursery, her gaze going immediately to the cot, where the cooing noises were coming from.
‘Riley?’ she said in complete disbelief as she stared down at her beautiful baby son. Dressed in clothes that she didn’t recognise. Wrapped in a blanket that wasn’t his. But she knew those eyes. She knew that little face.
‘Riley, darling!’ she said again, a strange animalistic screech coming from her mouth, a mix of horror and relief, as she lunged for the cot, ready to scoop her son back up into her arms.
‘No!’ Imelda shouted, her mouth twisted, her expression feral as she stepped in front of the cot, a knife flashing in her hand. The jagged silver blade was pointed directly at Shelby.
‘That is my
