Replacement Baby

by Mary Ann Smart

  Realizing that if she found Rodney she might be able to stay with him, Rose decided to pack all of her things, buy a small duffel bag in the morning, and check out of the hotel. Then she would not have to come back to Parsonsborough if Rodney would let her to stay at his house.

  * * *

  The following morning, Rose woke up when it was still dark outside. She took a shower, brushed her teeth, and towel dried her hair. Then she put on a cotton black dress with a grey sash. I need dull colors for my plans today, she had decided. I don’t need to stand out.

  Rose walked into St. Albans and went first to a women’s clothing shop. While there, she purchased a light scarf and a pair of black sunglasses. She then found a small hat section in a corner of the shop, where she purchased a wide brim straw hat with a thick, sage green velvet ribbon which tied under the chin. Last, Rose walked into a hair salon.

  “May I help you, miss?” asked a young woman with pin straight black dyed hair and long red fingernails.

  “Yes, I’d like to get my hair colored,” Rose told her.

  “Okay, fine,” the woman replied. She led Rose back to a swivel chair and they discussed the desired hair color.

  Rose finally decided on a deep, dark red. When the coloring was finished and Rose gazed at herself in the mirror, she was shocked.

  “Wow, I look so different!” she exclaimed.

  “Do you like it?” the hairdresser asked.

  “Absolutely. Now, I was thinking about possibly getting a perm. I just want a whole different look,” Rose explained. “Will a perm take a while?”

  “With hair your length, yes, it’ll take a bit of time,” the hairdresser replied.

  “Maybe I won’t go with the perm, then,” Rose mumbled, disappointed. “I was planning to go to London right after this and I don’t want to get there too late.”

  “I can curl your hair for you, if you would rather,” the hairdresser suggested. “Your hair is already a little curly, so it will be quick. The curls won’t last too long, but if I put a lot of hairspray in, it’ll last all day at least.”

  “That sounds terrific!” Rose felted relieved.

  After her hair was curled and hair sprayed, Rose stood up and paid. On her way out, she looked into a full length mirror. Wow, I really do look different. She popped her floppy hat on her head before walking out the door.

  Rose picked up a duffel bag on the way back and went back to the inn. She packed up her things and checked out.

  Hurrying to the station, Rose caught the train to London in St. Albans with only a couple of minutes to spare. She rode for over half an hour as her train car shifted and swayed. She used up almost every penny she earned at the flower shop on her train tickets, hair, and hat.

  About halfway through the train ride, Rose went into the restroom and fixed her make-up. Earlier in the week, she had purchased everything from mascara to blush. She put on more make-up than normal. When she was finished, she backed up, put on her new hat and sunglasses, and stared at herself in the mirror.

  “I don’t even look like myself anymore,” Rose mumbled, pleased with her disguise. So far, my plan has worked. She gazed in the mirror at her tight red curls, heavy make-up, sunglasses, and hat. No one will know it’s me with all this on.

  Arriving at the station in London, Rose hurried off the train and into a small café. Famished, she ordered a croissant with jam and a cup full of steaming black coffee. Then she calculated her plan to find Rodney and then walked around toward Green Park.

  “Excuse me, sir,” she said to an elderly gentleman who was sitting near a group of men smoking cigars at an outside pub table. Surrounded by a cloud of smoke, his face was behind a newspaper. The other smokers appeared engrossed in conversation, so Rose had chosen him.

  “Yes?” replied the man with a hint of annoyance as he lowered his paper to look at her.

  “Do you know the best way to get to Herald’s Jewelry Shop?” Rose inquired.

  “Why yes,” said the man, pausing thoughtfully for a moment. “I believe I do.”

  He proceeded to give her a long list of directions, including street names and landmarks. Rose tried to remember as much as she could as she thanked him and ran off. Seeing a Tube station, she boarded a train. A few minutes later, she emerged from a train station and turned a corner, attempting to stay on track according to the old man’s directions.

  As Rose walked, her face as tucked under her straw hat as possible, she began to notice bulletins being stapled or taped to the walls of some buildings. Most of these were advertisements for people who were searching for a new nanny or selling their piano. But then she spotted something that made her stop in her tracks. Rose suddenly felt her body grow cold from fear. There she was, her photo featured prominently on a missing person flyer. It was her face and a description of her physical appearance. Seeing this, Rose hurried along toward the jewel shop.

  Rose found the jewelry shop and entered. She walked around for several minutes, but there was no sign of Rodney. Giving up on her plan of finding him in the shop, she approached a tall, older man with grey hair and glasses. He was wearing a smart looking pinstriped suit.

  “Pardon me, sir?” Rose said to him.

  “Yes, miss?” the man replied. “How can I help you?”

  “I’m here to see Mr. Rodney Martin,” Rose requested. “One of the managers of this store,” she added.

  “Oh,” the man said, his face surprised. “I’m afraid Mr. Martin has not been employed here for nearly a month. I am the assistant manager now.”

  Rose’s mind was reeling. What? A month? How can that be? He never mentioned it to me. How weird. Why wouldn’t he tell me that he left his job? Didn’t he just go to that jewel show in Paris for work?

  Rose finally spoke. “Oh, wow. I didn’t know that. Well, may I by any chance get his phone number and home address?”

  “I apologize, miss,” the man replied. “I cannot give out that information.”

  “I understand,” Rose mumbled, feeling more and more confused. She thanked the man and left.

  Walking out of the jewelry shop, Rose contemplated what she should do next. She wandered around nearby for a while, thinking about Rodney and how mysterious it was that he was no longer employed at the jewelry store, especially because he had not even told her.

  There’s got to be some sort of explanation, Rose told herself as she wandered down a quiet lane near the jewelry store. I mean, he wouldn’t lie to me. Maybe he just forgot to tell me. There was a lot going on the last time I saw him. I was all freaked out because of all the crap with Mother. He probably was just trying to keep the conversation light. Maybe he was fired or something and he was just embarrassed to tell me. Yeah, that’s probably it. Rodney’s an honest guy. I know he would never try to lie to me or withhold information or anything. I’ll wait until I see him and then let him tell me in his own time. I won’t even bring it up or ask. He deserves to have my trust. After all, Rodney is the only person left in my life that I know I can trust completely.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  Rose walked down the lane until she found a park bench under a large shade tree. She sat down to think of what she should do next. Then she remembered how Rodney had scribbled down her name as “Mrs. Rodney Martin” at the London hotel the week before. She also recalled seeing an address next to the name. It must have been his address, she realized.

  Standing up, Rose walked in the direction of the hotel. The day was breezy, so she tied the ribbons on her hat tighter so it would not blow off her head.

  After asking for directions twice, Rose found herself in front of the tall hotel entrance. Dozens of people were entering and exiting the lobby. She took a deep breath and pushed open the glass double doors, stepping inside.

  Inside the lobby, Rose was quick to find the front desk and approached it. Certain that she could mimic a British accent after her time in London, she decided to try it.

  “Hello, sir?” she said with her fake accent. “I am l
ooking for a registry of visitors to this hotel.”

  The man politely smiled. “You may look in our guest registry book.” He set the registry book on the marble counter in front of her.

  Rose flipped through the pages of the book until she spotted the name that Rodney had used to register for the hotel room, Mrs. Rodney Martin. There was indeed an address beside it, and Rose asked the clerk for a pen and paper. She copied it down, folded it, and slipped it into her purse. Then she straightened her hat and hailed a cab outside the hotel.

  Rose slowly repeated the address she had jotted on the small paper to the cab driver. He stared off thoughtfully for a moment. Then he pulled out a wrinkled, folded map.

  “Yes, right, I believe I know where it’s at,” he mumbled. Then he sped off, turning onto a main road.

  After several miles, he turned onto a series of side streets. Rose slid down the smooth back seat as the car twisted and turned. She reached up to touch her hat, making sure it was still in place. She grabbed onto the seat in front of her as they sped around a particularly sharp turn.

  “Bexley, here we are,” the man said. “The place is near here, but I think it would be best if you walk the rest of the way. Too many people walking around here. Market day, I think.”

  Rose nodded and handed the man the cab fare. Then she stepped out and glanced around at the red brick buildings. She looked again at the paper and then at the nearest road sign. She read Rodney’s address. Walking for several minutes, Rose spotted the street name that he had put down as his address.

  Rose walked along a row of neat houses, which all looked similar. She finally found the house number that was on her piece of paper and approached it, relieved for her long search to be over.

  She raised her hand to knock, hoping that this was indeed the correct house. Gosh, I really hope this is it, Rose silently hoped. I’m ready to find Rodney and stop this search. It would also be really embarrassing if I went to the wrong house.

  At the exact moment before Rose’s fist hit the wood of the door, she heard a woman’s voice speaking in a loud voice on the other side. She blushed a bright crimson, embarrassed that she must have actually gone to the wrong house. It’s a good thing I didn’t knock. She quickly turned around to leave.

  “Have you checked with the police station today?” asked the female voice. It sounded familiar. Rose paused.

  “I’m heading out there in a few minutes,” replied a male voice. This voice actually sounded like Rodney. Rose brightened at the sound of her boyfriend’s voice and turned around to face the door, ready to see him. So this is the right house after all! Rose thought with relief.

  “You’d better get over to the police fast. We need to know if she’s shown up anywhere yet. Mr. Fontaine is already losing patience with you because you let Lisa get away.” The female voice spoke in an angry tone.

  Rose’s eyes grew wide and her hand flew to her mouth. They are talking about me. But who is Mr. Fontaine?

  “I’m going,” Rodney replied with annoyance. “I’m as frustrated as you are. I had her. I was about to take her to you. Then we would have been done with Lisa, finally.”

  Rose was confused at what was being said, and her heart began pounding. Done with me? Who were they going to take me to? Her head was spinning wildly.

  The female voice sounded oddly like Mother. But of course, it wouldn’t be her, Rose reasoned.

  The door began to open and the talking continued. Frantically, Rose ducked to the side of the house behind a shrub. She crouched down silently and peeked through the leaves and branches.

  Rose heard footsteps and saw Rodney walk down the walkway. He stopped to turn toward another figure, a tall woman wearing a dark sweater and black trousers. Rose could only see the woman from the back.

  “Don’t remind me again about how you let her slip through your fingers,” the female voice spoke. “You have gotten on Mr. Fontaine’s last nerve, Rodney. You’d better watch your back.”

  Rose gasped. The female speaking was Mother. Rose clamped her hand over her own mouth.

  “Tell him to be patient,” Rodney replied. “I almost had her. If it wasn’t for that irritating Douglass family, she would have been taken care of. I’m certain that she saw those missing ads after the Douglass’ went to Scotland Yard about her not coming home. I had her believing with certainty that they were out to get her, or at least that Lionel was. He is the one she is best friends with, you know. So she must have seen the posters and skipped town.”

  “And you being the idiot that you are didn’t leave her any way to contact you,” Mother said scornfully.

  “I don’t even want to hear it from you,” Rodney replied with annoyance. “I didn’t want her showing up at my house, asking questions. What if she saw you here? What if she caught us together? It would break her little heart,” he said, this time with sarcasm.

  “Please, don’t remind me that she is in love with you,” Mother told him. “It’s sickening. Disgusting.”

  “Well, the feelings aren’t mutual, so you have no reason to worry,” Rodney replied.

  “Oh, I’m not worried,” Mother said. “I have you wrapped around my finger. But I still think it was a ridiculous idea in the first place. What were you thinking, acting like her boyfriend?”

  “My plan was brilliant,” Rodney replied matter-of-factly. “You’re in denial, but it was. She lapped up every word I said. I was her first love. You tried to ruin it all when you told me not to kiss her. She was getting suspicious when all we did was dance and hold hands. She’s not bright, but she isn’t that stupid. If I had been able to do what was needed to keep up my act, I could have delivered her to Fontaine on a silver platter within a couple weeks. Instead, I had to drag it out, all over your stupid jealousy. I keep telling her that I wanted to ‘take things slow.’”

  “You disgust me,” Mother replied.

  “I should have let things play out, and just not told you,” Rodney replied. “I kept having to turn down her advances. If she were not so naïve and inexperienced, my cover might have actually been blown. She would have figured something was wrong after a while.”

  “I would have killed you if you had gotten physical with her, Rodney,” Mother snapped at him. “And I would have tortured you before I killed you.”

  “You get so envious, my love,” Rodney said sweetly, his tone suddenly changed. “Of course it all would have been part of my act. Do you really think I would choose a teenage kid over you?”

  What is he saying? Rose asked herself, her heart pounding. Is he dating… Mother? How can it be?

  “I would hope not,” Mother replied, her voice stern.

  Rose began to hear kissing noises. She glanced up to see Rodney and Mother embracing one another, their lips locked. Rose felt disgusted. A sickness filled her stomach. I was in love with a guy who is dating Mother? She felt both betrayed and nauseous at the same time.

  Soon, the kissing stopped. “But you still could have left her some sort of contact information. That was an idiotic move. I’m sure that she would love to contact you, her only true friend,” Mother said with an equal amount of annoyance and sarcasm in her voice. “But now she’s gone, lost in the abyss somewhere out there. She’s missing in a city of eight million people.”

  “If we find her, we find her,” Rodney said. “But between you and me, there are more important matters at hand. We are wasting time and energy on a stupid teenager. If she hasn’t gone to the police about you kidnapping her yet, do you think she will now?”

  “And what if she decides to report me one day, out of revenge?” Mother asked, her voice scornful. “Mr. Fontaine is worried. He would rather take her out now than risk her going to the police.”

  “Revenge? Really? She’s a mouse. She doesn’t care about revenge,” said Rodney in a matter-of-fact voice.

  “Still,” Mother said. “What if she had convinced of those Douglass people to report me over her suspicions? Then suddenly I would be at the center of an investi
gation. And if they were examining me over kidnapping, who knows what else they may find?”

  “Jewelry. Lots and lots of jewelry,” Rodney laughed eerily. “But you worry too much. You’re paranoid. She wouldn’t squeal.” The way Rodney spoke to Mother was in a belittling tone.

  Jewelry? What are they hiding? Rose wondered, her mind overflowing. She tried to ignore the sinking feeling in her stomach as she overheard the words that Mother and Rodney were saying to each other.

  “Worst mistake of my life, taking that girl,” Mother said bitterly. “She’s turned out to be nothing but trouble. Nothing but a burden. But my own baby Lisa died, so I had to replace her so the neighbors wouldn’t get suspicious.”

  Rose had been listening, wide eyed. She already felt sick. But the words that Mother just said were like a stab in her heart. Nothing but trouble. Nothing but a burden. Tears filled her eyes and she angrily wiped them away with the back of her hand. I was a replacement for a dead baby? That explains the photo of the dark haired baby with my name scribbled on the back. I was a replacement baby for this cruel woman. Nothing but a replacement. Nothing but trouble. Nothing but a burden.

  Rose realized she was shaking. She crawled away and stood up when she was out of sight. Rodney was working with Mother all along. Rodney, who seemed so cute and funny and perfect. He’s nothing but evil, pure evil. I thought that I was falling in love with him, but instead, he’s in love with Mother. He’s in love with a woman twice his age. Rose’s head was spinning as she stopped by a large bush. Feeling even sicker, she threw up into the bush. She clumsily wiped her mouth on her arm and continued walking.

  At least I know Lionel did nothing wrong, Rose realized. The Douglass family is truly searching for me. They’re worried about me. That’s why they contacted the police. That’s why there are posters all over town with my name and picture of them. They miss me. Maybe they even love me, just a little bit. The Douglass family really are the only true friends I have anymore.