The Babysitter(102)

Swallowing back the grief and guilt weighing too heavily in his chest, Mark turned away from Grace’s hospital bed. He didn’t really know why he’d come. To see with his own eyes, he supposed. He’d tried to save her, blistering his hands and his arms dragging her out, but it had been too late. He’d gone over that until he’d driven himself almost out of his mind. Lisa had tried to reassure him, telling him she could never have been truly saved. It didn’t help. The fact was, crucial seconds had sealed her fate. Sealed his baby’s fate.

He couldn’t undo it. Couldn’t make any of it right. Jade, Grace, whoever she was, had achieved her aim. She’d set out to have him or destroy him, and he’d assisted her every step of the way. He’d killed Evie. He was the one who’d destroyed his family.

Kneading the back of his neck, exhausted – sleep only came now to torment him, Mark was deep in thought as he walked the length of the hospital corridor, thinking now about Poppy. He’d let her down too, failed in his most fundamental obligation as a father to protect her. The child psychiatrist had been hopeful, but Mark wondered whether she would ever recover completely from her nightmare. She’d need lots of support and reassurance, and to know without doubt that she was loved. Mark had plenty of that to offer her, so much it hurt. But how was he going to love her from a distance? He’d have to, but how would Poppy cope? She’d locked her arms around his neck and sobbed when he’d told her he had to leave, after visiting her at the Chandlers’ house, which was where Mel was staying. How would his little girl know he wasn’t deserting her again?

Heading into the reception area, Mark didn’t hear Lisa at first, calling him across the foyer. He barely acknowledged her when she yelled, ‘Oi, superhero, look up.’ In other circumstances, Mark might have smiled. His new label down at the station was better than ‘paedo scum’, he supposed, but Mark really didn’t feel like a hero. He’d saved Mel and Poppy, but part of his family was missing. Part of himself was missing.

‘Mark!’ Lisa yelled, clearly determined to get his attention. ‘I know you have a lot on your mind, but will you please stop feeling so sorry for yourself.’

Not sure he was hearing her right, Mark snapped his gaze up.

‘There’s someone here to see you,’ Lisa said, a teasing smile on her face as she approached him. ‘I’ve got a feeling you might want to see her too.’

Following her gaze, Mark’s dormant heart kicked to life in his chest. The woman he loved, had always loved, would always love, was walking towards him. And in her arms, nestled close to her breast, was his baby daughter.

Mel stopped and offered Evie to him. She opened her mouth to speak, but faltered as Mark gathered Evie into his arms, neither much caring that they were crying openly in front of an audience.

‘They were left in the foyer at Herefordshire Hospital Reception,’ Lisa explained. ‘Evie’s been checked over. She’s fine, but—’

‘Wait…’ Mark tried to process. ‘They?’

‘Daisy. She’s alive.’ Lisa squeezed his arm. ‘Barely, but there’s a chance. Her parents are with her now. Obviously, they’ll need some support. Social services will make an assessment of her home situation, but… She’s found, Mark.’

Mark tugged in a tight breath, blinked hard and looked heavenwards.

‘There’s more,’ said Lisa. ‘We found Jade’s baby. Buried in a shallow grave in her grandmother’s garden. It looks as if she was born prematurely. Her grandmother died suddenly, apparently, from a fall. As Grace stood to gain from an inheritance, we’re looking further into that.’

Mark nodded. Despite all that had happened, he still felt sick to his soul that Grace had been abused so consistently as a child. That her circumstances had gone unnoticed, meaning she’d never received the help she obviously desperately needed.

Lisa paused, waiting while Mark caught up. ‘Whether she played a part in that, or not, she was sick, Mark. Or else pure evil. None of what happened was your fault.’

‘I know,’ Mark said throatily. Truthfully, though, he would always wonder whether he could have helped her more, followed up on her progress after visiting her at the hospital, been there should she need someone to talk to, as he’d promised he would.

‘Go home, Mark,’ Lisa urged him. ‘Your family’s waiting.’

Mark looked down at his daughter, and then turned to his wife. And he knew. Seeing the look in her beautiful green eyes, the colour of ferns after the rain… there was hope.

‘I’ll leave you three to it,’ Lisa said, turning to give Mel a hug and then sauntering off looking quite pleased with herself. ‘Oh.’ She turned back. ‘Take your time, but when you’ve kissed and made up, do you think you could collect your dog? She’s adorable, but she’s giving my kids ideas.’

Lisa rolled her eyes and carried on, as Mark and Mel ignored her in favour of beginning the healing process.





Eighty-One





DYLAN



Dylan watched from his truck as Mark Cain and his wife left by the front entrance of the hospital. ‘I think Jade might have lied to me,’ he said, seeing how the man gazed lovingly down at little Angel as he carried her. How his wife kissed his cheek and then threaded an arm around his waist and leaned her head against his shoulder. ‘Do you think she lied to me?’ he almost shouted, glancing upwards.