Sophie came out of the dressing room in her old jeans and a black T-shirt Mandy had lent her. It had a picture of Joan Baez on it and a quote: I’ve never had a humble opinion. If you’ve got an opinion, why be humble about it?
‘Now try these on.’ Laura handed Sophie a beautiful pair of beige Miu Miu sandals with a high wedge heel.
‘Oh, they’re amazing.’ Sophie tried the right shoe on and admired it. But as she was about to try on the left, she saw the price tag. ‘Oh, gosh, I couldn’t allow you to buy me these. They’re much too expensive. You’ve let me choose so much already. I really don’t need them.’
Laura fell a little bit more in love with her elder daughter. ‘Sophie, I’ve been waiting seventeen years to do this. Please let me spoil you.’
Sophie glanced at Mandy, who was studiously ignoring them.
‘Go on, darlin’, let your mum splash out on you. If my mum had offered me Miu Miu shoes I’d have bitten ’er hand off. I do love designer shoes. Louboutins are my favourite. Dougie liked me in them an’ all. Actually, he used to like me with nothin’ but me Louboutins on.’
They all roared laughing.
Laura picked up her handbag. ‘Come on, let’s get these wrapped up and go for a nice lunch.’
The shop assistant wrapped Sophie’s purchases – two sun-dresses, three T-shirts, two blouses, one pair of blue jeans, one pair of white jeans, two skirts, one pair of sandals, one pair of Miu Miu wedges, two cardigans, a denim jacket, two pairs of pyjamas and some underwear.
Lexie cleverly steered Sophie away while the final amount was being calculated. The bill came to fourteen hundred euros. Laura gleefully handed over her card. She didn’t care about the money. All she cared about was the complete and utter joy of being able to treat her precious girl. The very action of buying her daughter clothes made her feel like her mother. It was what mothers did. They went shopping with their daughters. They bought them things to wear. Laura had never had that with Sophie. She’d never been able to do nice things with or for her. It felt wonderful. She felt young and carefree, reckless and ecstatic.
Mandy sidled up beside her. ‘I’m fine, thanks, Mum. Don’t worry about me. I don’t need anything. Thanks for asking, though. In case you don’t remember who I am, I’m Mandy, your daughter, the one who’s been living with you for the past sixteen years and three months.’
Laura looked at her younger daughter’s grouchy face. She kissed her forehead. Mandy recoiled. ‘What are you doing? Jesus, Mum, you’ve gone all mushy since Sophie turned up. Go and slobber over her.’
‘I love you, Mandy. I love every hair on your grumpy head.’
‘Whatever. Go and stalk Sophie. I’ve had sixteen years of you. It’s her turn to take the pain.’
Laura chuckled and walked ahead to link arms with Sophie. It was a blue day … magnificent aqua blue.
They found a nice restaurant with a terrace. It was a treat to sit outside and have lunch: summers in Ireland were erratic so you had to make the most of the sunny days. Recently the weather had been fantastic. Since the day Sophie had walked into their lives the sun had shone. Laura knew it was the universe smiling down at them.
They sat at a round table and ordered their food. Lexie’s phone beeped. She read the message and laughed: ‘It’s Dougie. He’s not happy with me.’
‘Why?’ Mandy asked.
‘Because my reply to his last message wasn’t very positive.’
‘What did you say?’ Sophie wondered.
Lexie leaned over. ‘To fill you in on the back-story, Dougie cheated on me when we was married – a lot. So I left him. Now he’s all lonely and fat and playin’ crap football so he wants me back. But I told him I needed some time to myself. I said I ain’t comin’ runnin’ every time he clicks his fingers. So he sent me a text sayin’ if I won’t come home for him, will I at least think of Pelé and Maradona?’
‘Pelé and Maradona?’ Laura grinned.
‘Our Chihuahuas.’ Lexie giggled. ‘Dougie named ’em. I wanted to call ’em Dolce and Gabbana but he was havin’ none of it.’
‘Do you miss them?’ Mandy wanted to know. ‘I wish we had a dog. I’d love a black Lab but Mum’s allergic.’
‘To be honest, I can’t stand ’em. All they do is pee everywhere and chew my shoes. Dougie bought ’em for me as a present but I never liked dogs, really. They’re not even proper dogs, more like big rats. I took ’em for a walk round the garden on the first day and they was so knackered they slept for two days. Who wants dogs you have to carry around all the time?’
‘Do you miss your husband?’ Sophie asked.
Lexie took a sip of her sparkling water. ‘Yeah, I do. But he was a right dickhead, shaggin’ all sorts. To be honest, if I hadn’t met Frank and come over here, I’d probably be back with him already. I figured I was worth nothing on my own. But coming here, away from it all and staying with you lot, has made me think about my life and what I’m doin’ with it. You made me feel brilliant about myself. I don’t want to be with someone who cheats on me now. I want a decent bloke who treats me right. I look at all you’ve been through and I can see that you can survive anything. I was too scared to leave Dougie before, but now I can see that what you wear or the size of your diamonds isn’t who you are. Besides, I don’t want to be a WAG any more. I want people to know me and respect me because of what I do. Look at Posh Spice – people respect her now she’s got her own career as a designer. So I’ve decided I’m goin’ to take the money from the sale of my book and start my life over.’
‘Good for you,’ Laura enthused.
‘What are you going to do?’ Mandy asked.
‘Glamour photography! There are way too many men photographers and some of them are up to no good, tryin’ it on with the young girls. So I’ve decided I’m goin’ to do a course, set up my own studio and take the pictures of the page-three girls and the glamour models. I think they’d be more comfortable with a woman staring at their bits. I know I would’ve preferred it. I learned a lot about lightin’ an’ all when I was modellin’ so I reckon I’ll be all right.’
‘That’s a great idea,’ Laura said. ‘How totally inspired of you to think of that.’
‘It’s thanks to you lot, really,’ Lexie said, sounding emotional. ‘Honestly, comin’ here’s changed the way I see myself.’
‘What about Dougie? Are you going to go through with the divorce?’ Mandy asked.
‘I’m goin’ home to London and I’ll see him. Listen to what he has to say and then decide. But I know Dougie. He won’t be able to be faithful – he’s too soft. So I reckon it’s over. Sad, but life goes on. Look at you lot, what you’ve gone through, you’re happy now. I will be too, on my own terms.’
‘That deserves a toast.’ Laura raised her glass. ‘To Lexie’s new career and life.’
‘Cheers, darlin’, and here’s to you guys – livin’ proof that you should never give up hope.’
Later that day, when they were lounging around in the garden, enjoying the sun, they heard a car pull up. Lexie was sunbathing, lying on her stomach. Laura was flicking through baby photos of Sophie. Mandy was sitting in the shade, strumming her guitar and writing down lyrics. Sophie was in the kitchen, getting everyone a drink.
‘That’ll be your dad,’ Laura said to Mandy.
‘He’s dying to meet Sophie,’ Mandy said. ‘He thought I was winding him up when I told him yesterday.’
‘I know. I had him on the phone for an hour last night,’ Laura said. At first David had been brilliant about it, thrilled for her, Joan and Frank. He had said all the right things about Laura deserving this miracle and how she was a great person and a great mum … It had been so nice to hear those things from him. It had meant a lot, especially with Joan knocking her all the time. But then he had started pushing her to press charges against Anna. He wanted to get the police involved and lawyers. He said they must get her locked up for what she had done, it was a heinous crime and on and on, but Laura wasn’t ready for that. S
he didn’t want to get into it yet. And she knew that Sophie would be upset if she thought they were plotting to lock Anna up. She had asked David to give her a few more days to think about it, but he had been reluctant to agree. He wanted to act now, while they knew Anna was still in Dublin, before she had the chance to bolt.
They heard the car door close, hurried footsteps and then a loud cough.
Laura looked up and saw David standing at the edge of the grass, staring openly at Lexie’s naked bum.
Tanya came around the corner, hot on his heels. ‘What on earth?’
‘Sophie?’ David asked.
Laura and Mandy roared laughing.
‘Don’t be ridiculous, David,’ Tanya hissed. ‘She’s the footballer woman I told you about.’ Addressing Lexie, she said, ‘Can you please put some clothes on?’
Lexie looked up lazily from her magazine. ‘Sorry, darlin’, but I always sunbathe in a thong. I like a nice brown bum, don’t you?’
Laura cheered silently: good old Lexie, she took no crap from anyone.
‘Close your mouth, Dad, you’re drooling.’ Mandy grinned.
‘It’s indecent,’ Tanya barked.
Lexie pulled her enormous Gucci sunglasses up on to her head. ‘If it was hanging around my ankles I’d agree with you, darlin’. But it ain’t. I do my lunges every day to keep it nice and perky. Dougie always said my bum was better than Kylie’s.’
‘I’m David, Mandy’s father.’ Laura tried not to laugh as David reached down to shake Lexie’s hand. Tanya’s face was like curdled milk.
‘Nice to meet you. I’m Lexie Granger. I’ve heard good things about you, David. Laura tells me you’re a stand-up bloke. I admire that.’
David blushed. ‘Well, thank you.’
‘And you’ve done a good job with Mandy here.’ Lexie winked at her. ‘She’s a bit lippy, but she has a good heart.’
‘My sentiments exactly.’ David chuckled.
‘Sorry I took so long.’ Sophie walked towards them. She was wearing her new powder blue sundress and her feet were bare. The sun was shining behind her, giving her an almost otherworldly glow.
David spun around and gaped at her. Sophie froze. ‘Jesus Christ,’ he whispered. ‘She’s you, Laura – it’s uncanny.’
Laura went over to him and took his hand. ‘I know.’
‘She’s just like you were when I first met you.’ His voice shook slightly.
‘She came back to me, David.’ Laura coughed back tears.
David looked from Sophie to Laura and back again. ‘It’s … well … it’s miraculous.’
‘Yeah, yeah, twins, looky-likeys, we all know. She got Mum’s blue-eyed, golden-haired genes and I got your dark-haired, brown-eyed crappy ones.’
‘So you’re not a figment of Mandy’s vivid imagination.’ Tanya’s eyebrows tried to rise but her Botoxed forehead didn’t allow it. ‘I was sure this was one of her little dramas to get David’s attention.’
Mandy rolled her eyes. ‘You were wrong, as always. As you can see, my ghost sister is back from the dead. She’s actually been alive all the time, living in London with the unhinged oddball who abducted her.’
David continued to stare at Sophie. Laura could see she was feeling awkward. She stepped towards her. ‘This is David, Mandy’s dad, and his wife Tanya.’ She introduced them. ‘And this is my beautiful daughter, Sophie.’
‘I thought her name was Jody,’ Tanya said.
‘It was, but she’s been Sophie for the past seventeen years and is more comfortable with that name.’ Laura was firm.
Sophie held out her hand. ‘It’s very nice to meet you both,’ she said, shaking theirs.
David cradled her hand in his. ‘It’s incredible to meet you. I can’t believe it, I just can’t believe it. What a wonderful and amazing thing to happen. How are you? Are you OK?’
‘I’m fine, thank you.’ Sophie gently pulled her hand away.
David was concerned. ‘So you weren’t harmed or –’
‘No, I was very well looked after,’ Sophie interrupted, wanting the conversation to end.
‘I told you, Dad, her kidnapper was a headmistress and apparently was nice to her.’ Mandy summed up Sophie’s life.
David turned to Laura. ‘Did you call the police like I told you?’
She shook her head.
‘But you must!’ he exclaimed. ‘The woman has to be locked up. She kidnapped a child. Imagine what else she could be capable of. She’s a pariah – you can’t allow her to roam the streets freely. She could abduct another child. I’ll find you the best criminal lawyer in town. They’ll throw the book at her. She’ll never see the light of day.’
‘No, please!’ Sophie implored him. ‘She’s not a bad person, she’s really not.’
‘You’ve been brainwashed to think that,’ David said. ‘These people are very manipulative. They’re masters of deceit and mind games.’
Sophie’s face crumpled. ‘She’s not like that. She’s a good person. She was good to me, really good to me. I had a great life.’
Tanya ran her ruby red nails through her hair. ‘Let’s not be hasty, David,’ she said. ‘The girl seems perfectly normal, considering her ordeal, and once you get the police involved, the media will get wind of it and it’ll become a three-ring circus. We don’t want to be embroiled in some freak show of child-kidnappers. Think of the headlines – think of your career.’
David was adamant. ‘Justice must be done. Laura thought her child was dead. She suffered horrendously. This person must pay a price for what she did.’
Sophie sank down into the nearest chair. ‘Please don’t tell the police. I’m begging you. I’m not messed up and I’m not brainwashed. I’m just a normal girl who thought her mother was her mother. And Anna is a really nice person. I know what she did was awful but she’s been a brilliant mum to me and I can’t let her go to jail. I can’t.’ Sophie began to hyperventilate. Laura ran over to comfort her. Lexie handed her a glass of water.
David crouched in front of her. ‘I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to upset you, but you must see that she has to pay for her crime. If she did this once, she could do it again. Surely you wouldn’t want another family to suffer like Laura’s has.’
‘There, there, darlin’, catch your breath,’ Lexie said protectively.
Sophie dried her eyes. ‘My mother, I mean Anna, would never hurt anyone. She’s not like that. All the other mothers were in awe of how devoted she was to me and how much time and energy she spent teaching me new things, broadening my mind, helping me develop as a person. She took me everywhere – ballet, opera, cinema, theatre, art. She was a really wonderful mother and she couldn’t hurt a fly. She’s not a threat to anyone. And she is suffering, she’s suffering terribly. We’ve never been apart before. I got a fright when I saw her a few days ago because she looks so broken. I understand what she did was wrong and illegal and all of that, but you mustn’t send her to jail. She doesn’t deserve it. She’s in her own private Hell now, I know she is. I know how much she’s hurting.’ Sophie sobbed into her hands.
Laura decided to step in. As much as she wanted Anna to burn in Hell, she didn’t want Sophie to be upset. Sophie loved Anna and there was nothing Laura or anyone else could do to change that. Even with all the information, even knowing that Anna had kidnapped her, Sophie was still defending her. Laura also didn’t want to scare Sophie away. If they pushed her too much she might run back to London. Laura couldn’t bear that. She needed to be near Sophie.
And if they did tell the police, if they did take Anna to court, what would they get out of it? A long drawn-out battle, money spent on lawyers’ fees. Sophie would have to testify and probably Mandy, too. Laura had had enough drama in her life and, besides, she knew as a mother that the worst pain she could inflict on Anna was to keep Sophie away from her, down here in Killduf. That was a personal prison, an emotional prison, a fate far worse than being locked up.
‘David!’ Tanya barked. ‘Drop it. The girl doesn’t want
a court case and neither do we. Can we please go? I have an appointment at five thirty.’
‘Getting more rat poison injected into your face, are you?’ Mandy drawled.
‘Don’t knock it, darlin’, it’s flippin’ brilliant.’ Lexie grinned.
‘I have never had Botox,’ Tanya exclaimed, her frozen forehead stating otherwise. ‘I just have very good genes on my mother’s side.’
Mandy snorted.
David stood up. Looking at Sophie, he said, ‘Please think about what I said. I really feel that letting this woman walk free is the wrong thing to do. If you change your mind, call me. Laura has my number.’
Laura went with David, Mandy and Tanya to the car.
‘Jesus, Laura, you can’t allow that woman to walk free. What she did was abominable,’ David said.
‘Drop it, Dad. Sophie doesn’t want to do it and Mum won’t do anything Sophie doesn’t want.’
‘Forget about it, David. Leave them alone,’ Tanya snapped.
‘Thanks for the offer, and I will think about it. But for now my priority is spending time with Sophie and making sure she’s happy and safe here with us.’
David opened the car door. ‘I understand, but don’t rule it out.’
‘Get a move on,’ Tanya hissed. ‘I’m late.’
Laura leaned through the car window. ‘’Bye, love, have a nice time.’
‘It’ll be a break from watching you fawn all over Sophie. Try not to smother her with love, Mum. You don’t want to suffocate her.’
Laura blew her a kiss. ‘Goodbye, my ray of sunshine.’
‘Drive,’ Tanya ordered.
Laura watched them go. She hoped Mandy would enjoy being with her dad and getting some attention. She knew she’d been focusing on Sophie, but how could she not? But she had to be careful not to shut Mandy out. She had to make sure she included her and gave her some quality time too.
This Child of Mine Page 32
