The Other Woman(88)

‘Where are you?’ I howled, falling to my knees. I curled myself up into a ball and lay on the carpet. I couldn’t imagine being in greater pain.

I don’t know how much time had passed when my mobile rang and I scrambled to reach it, its screen now smashed into smithereens. ‘Is she okay? Have you got her?’ I asked. I held my breath as I waited for the reply.

‘Of course I’ve got her,’ said Pammie, after a long pause.

I sat up, my heart beating twice as fast as it should have been. I’d expected to hear Adam’s voice and the air felt like it was being sucked out of me.

‘Bring her back,’ I said between gritted teeth. ‘Bring her back right now.’

Pammie laughed lightly. ‘Or what?’

‘Or I’ll fucking kill you,’ I said. ‘You’ve got three minutes to get back here with my baby or I’m calling the police, and you’d better hope that they get to you before I do.’

‘Goodness me,’ she cooed. ‘I don’t understand why you’re getting so stressed. Did you not get the text I sent you earlier?’

‘What text?’ I yelled.

‘Hold on,’ she said. I heard my phone ping. ‘That one.’

I looked at the shattered screen and could just make out the words: Didn’t want to wake you. Poppy awake, so I’m going to take her to Greenwich Park. Leave you to have a lie-in. Love Pammie x

‘You’ve only just sent this,’ I hissed.

‘No dear, I sent it about an hour ago, before I even left the flat. I didn’t want you to get all worked up. Perhaps it didn’t go through straight away.’

I stared at the phone blankly. I had no words.

‘Anyways, we’re on our way back now, so should be with you within ten minutes. Am sure she’ll be hungry by then.’

The line went dead, and I hugged my knees, rocking back and forth, wondering if I was going mad.

A little while later, I heard Adam thumping up the stairs. I had no idea whether ten minutes or ten hours had passed. ‘There’s no sign of them, but I’m sure there’s a valid reason.’

He looked at me on the floor, soaked in milk, tears, and insanity. ‘They’re coming home,’ I said quietly.

I watched his shoulders relax, the tension ebb out of him, proving he wasn’t as nonchalant as he seemed. ‘Where are they?’ he asked breathlessly.

‘In Greenwich Park. It appears Pammie was doing us a favour.’ I gave a soulless laugh. ‘Who knew that your mother could be so considerate? To take our baby from beside our bed and disappear.’

‘I think you’ve said enough,’ he barked. ‘Go and get yourself cleaned up.’

‘Take control,’ is what I said to myself repeatedly, as I splashed cold water onto my puffy face. But by the time I was dabbing myself dry, I was already crying again. Who was I kidding? I didn’t have the control – she did, as she always did. I buried my face in the towel one more time, willing myself to summon the courage I needed. ‘Enough, Emily,’ I said out loud. ‘No more.’

I heard Poppy’s cry before I saw her, and rushed down the stairs towards the sound. Pammie was standing there, without a care in the world, with Poppy on her shoulder. ‘I think this missy wants feeding,’ she said, a hint of a smile on her lips.

‘Get out of my house,’ I hissed.

‘Excuse me?’ she said, before immediately dissolving into loud sobs.

Adam came rushing down the stairs. ‘What’s going on?’

‘Oh darling, I’m so sorry,’ she said. ‘I never meant to upset anyone. I thought I was being helpful . . .’

She looked up at him, her eyes imploring him to believe her, but I already knew he did.

I snatched Poppy from her and went to go back upstairs. ‘That bitch better not be here when I come back out,’ I said to Adam.

I stormed into the bedroom, slamming the door behind me, got Poppy latched on, and sobbed until I couldn’t sob anymore.





42

Adam and I had barely exchanged a word in the two weeks between Pammie’s visit and James and Kate’s wedding. I’d wanted to talk to him, to tell him everything, but as I went through the catalogue of events in my head, it occurred to me that she’d ensured that I’d look like the evil, paranoid liar every time. There wasn’t one occasion when it wasn’t my word against hers, and not only would my claims make me look bitter, they’d make me out to be a psychopath myself. I had Poppy to think about now, I couldn’t take that risk.

‘I’m not going today,’ I said, as he was getting his morning suit on.

‘Fine,’ he said. ‘But I’m taking Poppy.’

My legs wobbled. This was what I was most afraid of.

‘You won’t want her there,’ I said softly. ‘She’ll only tie you down, you should be enjoying yourself today. It’s your brother’s wedding.’

He shook his head as he did up the top button of his shirt. ‘You can do what you like, but I’m taking her.’

There was no way that Poppy was going without me. I slowly went to the wardrobe and picked out my purple-print dress, still in its dry-cleaning wrapper. I’d worn it once before, earlier in my pregnancy, and its pull-in waist gave me enough room for manoeuvre over my post-baby belly without making me look too fat.