Lie, Lie Again(55)

“The baby’s sleeping, but we can take a little peek if you’d like.”

“Are you sure?”

Suddenly confident, Lily stood. “Of course. I try not to worry too much about keeping the house silent when he’s napping so I can do what I need to do. Besides, they say babies like white noise. Do you have children?”

“No. Not yet.” She faked a breezy tone, though her blood boiled as she followed Lily down a hallway lined with photographs that she quickly studied. Little details were important to remember. You never knew what you might find.

“Okay, here we are.” She turned the knob quietly and crept in. Apparently, all the talk about noise was just for show, but nonetheless, Sylvia followed silently. A mural covered one wall. It was all pale-blue skies and puffy clouds. How adorable. Lily had probably painted it herself. She looked like someone who would be artistic. A red-and-blue airplane soared across one wall, towing a banner with the name HUNTER printed in puffy cloudlike letters. The crib was made of a dark wood and centered against the adjacent wall. Lily walked toward it and peered down. “Here he is. Little Hunter,” she whispered.

Sylvia placed both hands on the side of the crib. A baby boy with a shock of dark hair and ruby lips lay on his back, his arms above his head as though he’d just called Touchdown! The hollow spot in her heart dissolved to ashes, but that didn’t stop relentless flames from licking the wound with scorching swipes. He was supposed to be her baby. “He’s beautiful.”

“Thank you. We call him our miracle baby. We weren’t sure if we could conceive.” She set the elephant on the dresser. “It’s perfect here,” she whispered, and motioned for Sylvia to follow her out.

Weren’t sure they could conceive? Sylvia’s hatred for Hugh uncoiled, and she had a venomous desire to strike something. How could Hugh have cheated on his wife, annoying as she was, when she had just given birth to their miracle baby? They reached the bedroom door, and as though sensing their departure, the baby woke with a tiny cry. Lily swept back into the room, brushing past Sylvia.

Well, look at Little Miss Supermom.

Lily cooed to her baby, gathering him in her spindly arms. Amazing those arms could bear such weight. “Look who woke up.”

Sylvia leaned into the door for support. “What a darling baby. He’s precious.”

“Would you like to hold him while I fix a bottle? You can sit in the rocker there.” She carefully deposited the little bundle into Sylvia’s arms.

Surprised as she was, she held the baby close and sank into the upholstered blue rocker. As Lily left the room, Sylvia inhaled the sweet scent of powder and baby. Anger and affection battled for space inside her.

Anger at Hugh.

Affection for this tiny little life.

This life that should belong to her, not Lily.

She slid her hand into her pocket and reached for her phone. The least she could do was capture the moment. She extended her arm and snapped a selfie. Just her and the baby. She smiled to herself, tucking her phone back in her pocket as Lily returned with a bottle.

“Here we are,” she sang in a whisper. “Would you like to feed him?”

Without responding, Sylvia reached for the bottle and gently held it near the baby’s lips. He knew just what to do. Oh, this gorgeous little human. So much life was ahead of him. Had Hugh considered his son when he was making promises to Sylvia?

No. No, he hadn’t. He’d been thinking only about himself and his needs. How had she allowed herself to fall for a man who was so like her own father? It was disgusting. She wanted to destroy everything around her—to become a human wrecking ball that could crush Hugh with a devastating blow. Jonathan, too, for that matter. He hadn’t given his mother a second thought as she had faced her final days.

Hugh didn’t deserve his perfect family. The only thing he deserved was pain. As little Hunter suckled eagerly, Sylvia knew the time was right. She bit down on her cheek until she felt tears form in her eyes. And then she uttered a muffled sob. When Lily didn’t react, she let her shoulders shake, and she began faking a good cry.

“Oh my! Are you okay?” Lily reached for the baby, but Sylvia tucked him closer to her body and continued to sob.

It sounds so real! She dipped her head low and rocked forward and back, forward and back in the soft blue chair. She didn’t dare steal a look at Lily, but the woman had to be alarmed. This performance was one of her better ones. Shuddering out a breath, she kept her head down and continued to rock. “Such a sweet baby,” she whispered. “So perfect.” She stole a look at Lily’s sickly pale face.

“I’ll take him now. You should have some water,” she said, her voice steady and firm, as though channeling a hostage negotiator.

Sylvia continued rocking slowly, knowing each second she didn’t return little Hunter was torture. Was she a potential kidnapper? Crazy?

“It’s just so hard to believe,” she whispered. Lifting her eyes to Lily, she rattled out a raspy breath and said, “I’m so sorry for bursting into tears. You must think I’m a lunatic.”

Lily extended her arms desperately. All sense of calm had vanished. “No! It’s okay. Can you—”

Sylvia sniffed. “I’ve had a very difficult few days. Perhaps I’m not ready to reemerge into the real world just yet.” She stood and passed the baby to Lily, who nearly crumpled with relief. Sylvia touched her arm to steady her.