Someone Else's Baby

by Someone Else's Baby (retail) (epub)

  ‘We did all the checks we possibly could. Their website and business looked… real,’ I said.

  ‘They conned us. Even Brenda, I mean, Paula Bennett was conned too. He bloody killed her!’ Steve shifted Alice onto my lap and stood next to me. ‘Haven’t you seen the news?’ He stepped forward.

  ‘Steve,’ I said through clenched teeth.

  Lorna carried on, unflinching. ‘But one thing you did know about them is that they were willing to pay you more expenses money than anyone else.’

  ‘That was my fault. I persuaded Charlotte we could do with the extra cash.’ Steve touched his forehead.

  ‘Oh dear, one bad decision after another.’

  ‘But why not be paid more when she was basically giving them the use of her body, her womb? She had all sorts of complications during the pregnancy and ended up having an emergency caesarean because of pre-eclampsia. She nearly died.’

  Lorna stared at him for several moments, then wrote something down.

  ‘You can’t put a price on what she did for them, that’s all I’m saying.’

  ‘And who is going to look after these babies? You both work, don’t you?’

  ‘I don’t have a job at the moment, but I’m starting at college part-time soon, to train to be a teacher. And Alice is at nursery now.’

  ‘Do you think you can cope with three children?’ She squinted at me.

  ‘Yes, we believe we can and we’ve got Mum to help us.’

  ‘Why are you asking us about both twins? Robert’s not been found yet.’

  I tried to give Steve a warning look. He was going to mess things up if he wasn’t careful.

  ‘Because we like to keep twins together if we can.’

  ‘So, we’ll get both back or neither of them?’ I asked.

  ‘Let’s not speculate at this stage. The welfare of the twins is paramount and, of course, growing up together would be the best outcome for them.’ Lorna gave a brief smile.

  ‘Have you any idea what this is doing to us?’ Steve asked, raising his voice. ‘Got kids of your own, have you?’

  Lorna actually shut right up. Her hand sprung to the silver heart hanging from her neck. When she let go, I could see it was one of those handprint pendants. Shell had one made when her first baby was born sleeping. I elbowed Steve. Lorna caught me gawping at her. We both looked away.

  ‘I’m sorry, Charlotte,’ Mum came and stood the other side of me, ‘I know you didn’t want me to say anything, but I really feel that I have to.’ She wiped a tear away from her eye. ‘You see, Lorna, I know this is my daughter, and you’ll think this is easy for me to say, but you really won’t find a more loving person to be a mother to those twins. She wanted to be a surrogate primarily because of my stillbirths. I regret trying so many times because it took me away from her and broke our family apart. When Charlotte met Brenda, all she wanted was to help her experience the joy of holding her own baby. Money didn’t come into it for her. Whenever I questioned her – and believe you me I asked her all the questions you’re asking and many, many more, because don’t forget, these are my grandchildren we’re talking about here. When I questioned her, it always came back to her needing to help someone like me. She couldn’t let Brenda down. And maybe you think it’s a flaw and she’s been naïve, but Charlotte believes in the good in people, and I think that’s rather wonderful,’ Mum’s voice wavered at the end.

  ‘Thanks Mum.’ I reached for her hand. Steve put his arm across my shoulders. The three of us linked together in front of this woman who had the power to make or break our future.

  Lorna took a form out and handed it to Mum. She put her clipboard and pen away and stood up. ‘I think I have everything I need for now. You’ll hear something in the next couple of days.’ Her tone was rigid, frosty. We’d blown it.

  I showed her out. As we shook hands, face-to-face, I caught the tiniest glimmer in her eyes.

  Back inside, I threw my arms around Mum and Steve.

  ‘You were incredible, Mum. Thank you so much.’

  ‘It’s the least I could do.’

  ‘Did you mean it about us moving in with you?’

  ‘Of course I did.’

  ‘Dare we even hope that we got through to her?’

  ‘I don’t know, I think I mucked it up.’ Steve sat hunched on the sofa, head down.

  I’d thought our nightmare was ending, but our fate lay in the hands of that stern woman. I had to prepare myself for the worst, for the powers-that-be deciding that Rose and Robert’s future shouldn’t be with us.

  I slumped next to Steve as though I was a puppet who’d had my strings cut. He put his arm round me and I pressed my face to his side. It would be the hardest most painful decision to accept, but if I was sure the twins were safe, being cared for by a couple who genuinely loved them as much as we did, maybe it would be easier to live with.

  Chapter Sixty-Three

  The next three days were the longest of my life. It was impossible to sleep at night and when I did drop off, I had vivid disturbing nightmares about the twins being ripped away from me at birth. We tried to keep to a normal routine, but I couldn’t settle to anything. Lorna Drake assessed Mum’s house once the police check had been completed. Another magazine emailed about interviewing me as soon as we found out if Rose was coming back to us. On the third day, Inspector Johnson called, his voice unusually chirpy.

  ‘Good news. The court confirms that you are still the legal parents of Rose and, following the welfare report, they accept that you were misled by Leslie Brown and therefore Rose should be returned to you as soon as possible.’

  ‘Really? She can come home?’ Instant tears filled my eyes. ‘Is she okay?’

  ‘She’s in excellent condition. If you’re able to move into your mum’s temporarily until the council have found a house for you, Social Services can bring baby Rose home to you tomorrow.’

  ‘That’s incredible news. We can move in straight away, it’s all arranged.’ Mum’s two spare rooms were permanently ready for guests, so it was only a matter of moving our things. I’d never have dreamed of living back with Mum, but over the last few weeks we’d grown so much closer.

  ‘We’ll be coming over tomorrow as well, to update you. I’d like Steve to be with you please.’

  ‘I’ll make sure he’s here. Any news about Robert?’

  ‘We’re still gleaning information from Brown and the other woman who’d been living at the second house. I’m hoping to be able to tell you more tomorrow.’

  ‘Thank you so much.’

  My baby daughter was coming home. But not having Robert back too was like a knife in my side. I called Steve. He promised to come home after lunch. He’d see if Dan would help us move our stuff in his van.

  Next, I phoned Mum. ‘It’s good news,’ I said quickly before she could worry, ‘they’re bringing Rose home tomorrow, which means we can move in this afternoon.’ My smile was the biggest in far too long. I stroked Alice’s hair. She was going to have a little sister after all.

  ‘That’s wonderful, Charlotte. I can’t wait to see her. I’ll have two granddaughters.’

  ‘I’m sure I won’t sleep tonight.’

  ‘Do you want me to come and help you pack?’

  ‘Yes please.’

  ‘Any news on Robert?’

  ‘Nothing yet. I’m not sure if I can face it, Mum. What if the stories about trafficking are true?’ My voice trembled. ‘I can’t stop worrying what’s happened to him. What they might have done to him. I’d never be able to forgive myself.’

  * * *

  Mum arrived with a boot full of old newspapers and cardboard boxes she’d picked up at the supermarket.

  ‘What time are they bringing Rose?’ She took all our mismatched plates out of the cupboard and started wrapping them one by one in newspaper.

  ‘Lorna said it would be at ten.’ I took a pile of second-hand paperbacks off the shelf and dropped them in a box.

  ‘She’ll need her mummy’s cuddle
s.’ Mum stacked each of the wrapped plates.

  ‘I know and I try not to think about whether she was left to cry.’

  Mum nodded. ‘Is there anything you need for her that I can get?’

  ‘I don’t think so. You’re doing so much for us already, Mum.’

  ‘I want to do everything I can to help you get them both back.’

  I touched the three gold rings hanging around my neck and made a silent wish that I’d have them all back together.

  By the time Steve came home from work, we’d almost finished. Dan helped him load the boxes into his van.

  ‘Gonna miss you,’ Carly said, giving me a hug. Her blue hair smelled of Parma violets.

  ‘You too. We’re not going far though, come and visit any time.’

  ‘I was counting on you for a bit of help and advice.’ She looked down at her boots.

  ‘I’m still here for you… Carly? Oh my god, stop that, you don’t mean?’

  Carly grinned and patted her flat tummy.

  ‘When are you due?’ I squealed.

  ‘September.’

  ‘I’m so happy for you both.’ I hugged her. ‘Did you hear that, Steve?’

  ‘Yeah, good isn’t it?’ He and Dan came in for the next boxes.

  ‘And you’re feeling OK? No sickness?’

  ‘Not once and I’m fourteen weeks already.’

  ‘Oh, you lucky thing.’

  ‘I’m really pleased for you, Carly,’ Mum said.

  ‘Good news about Jack too,’ Steve said, ‘he’s finished his chemo. It’s gone really well.’

  ‘That’s brilliant,’ I said.

  Carly helped me pack my clothes while Mum finished up in the kitchenette.

  When everything was in the van, Steve and I took one last look around the empty flat. I thought about the day we’d brought Alice home for the first time and then the twins. It had been so hard saying goodbye to them. This was the fresh start we needed, but I’d still miss the old place.

  Mum took Alice in her car and we met them at her house. Steve and Dan unloaded the boxes while I carried Alice in.

  ‘You’ll have to share a room with your sister Rose and hopefully your brother Robert too.’ I put her down and she ran around, twirling in circles, giggling.

  I caught her hands. We would never be completely happy again until all our little family was back together.

  Chapter Sixty-Four

  Early the next morning, a car pulled up outside Mum’s house. I ran out to greet them. Steve followed behind, carrying Alice. Lorna Drake smiled widely while her colleague unstrapped Rose from her seat and handed her to me, loosely wrapped in a soft white blanket.

  ‘Hello, my sweetheart, look at you, welcome home.’ I cradled Rose in my arms and kissed her cheeks and her tiny paper-thin nails. ‘Look at her, she’s perfect.’ Her eyes shone at me, now a clear topaz blue. She’d grown so much, almost four months old already.

  Steve kissed her forehead and put his arm around me. He leaned Alice forward so she could see her new sister. Mum stroked Rose’s hair.

  ‘Thank you for all your help,’ I said to Lorna. She smiled and patted my arm.

  As the social workers were leaving, Inspector Johnson and WPC Reed arrived.

  ‘Shall we go in?’ Steve led the way. He offered them seats on Mum’s sofa.

  I sat on the two-seater, holding Rose out on my knees in front of me, my eyes locked on hers, rocking gently, backwards and forwards. ‘My little baby Rose, I’ve missed you more than you’ll ever know. Mummy and Daddy love you so much. We’ll never ever let you go again.’ Tears misted my eyes. I felt Mum’s hand on my shoulder. Steve knelt down by my side with Alice, who pointed at Rose and said, baby, in a delighted and surprised voice that made me smile even more.

  ‘That’s right, this is your baby sister.’ I raised Rose’s hand and kissed her palm. Steve did the same. Alice copied us and we all laughed.

  ‘Let’s get the kettle on,’ Mum said, passing me a tissue, then wiping her own eyes too. ‘What can I get everyone?’

  ‘Two teas please,’ Inspector Johnson said.

  ‘One sugar for me, thanks,’ WPC Reed added.

  ‘Tea for us too please, Gloria,’ Steve said. I smiled, the stress and tension momentarily lifting from my shoulders. But I’d never relax completely until I knew Robert was safe too.

  ‘Do you have any updates for us?’ Steve asked.

  ‘We do. We have more information about why there were so many babies in the house, what they were there for,’ Inspector Johnson said.

  The smile slid off my face. I sat up straighter. Steve let Alice down onto the rug and she toddled off to her toy box. He sat next to me on the sofa. I couldn’t stop staring at Rose’s perfect little face, the long eyelashes and creamy skin. Where was Robert at that very moment? Who was holding him, feeding him? When Mum had finished giving out the tea, I passed Rose into her arms. Mum’s smile shone in her eyes and softened her face, reminding me of when she was younger. Steve reached for my hand and kissed it.

  ‘We have found evidence in the second house Brown was hiding in that the babies were being sold on to wealthy families around the world, for substantial sums of money.’

  ‘What?’ I stroked Rose’s downy hair.

  ‘Jesus.’ Steve frowned. ‘How much for exactly?’

  ‘Up to £120,000 for a boy, £80,000 for a girl.’

  No wonder Malcolm was so keen on wanting boys.

  Steve smacked his hand to his forehead. Mum tutted.

  ‘Unfortunately, we believe your son has already been sold,’ WPC Reed said.

  ‘No, no, please don’t say that,’ I whispered.

  ‘Shit!’ Steve sat up straight. ‘So, hang on, we willingly gave our son to a criminal and he sold him to a complete stranger?’

  ‘We’re doing all we can to trace Robert,’ the policewoman said. ‘We’ve recovered a lot of paperwork and we’re confident we’ll be able to find out where he’s been taken to.’

  ‘Do you think they’re kind people?’ My voice was barely audible.

  ‘We can’t know what sort of people they are at this stage. I’m sorry.’ The policewoman glanced at the inspector. His Adam’s apple moved up and down before he spoke.

  ‘The woman we arrested at the property was pretending to be married to Brown, like Paula Bennett was. He used them to draw surrogates in. She’s given us a wealth of information. We’re not dealing with one man here. He’s part of a highly organised international baby-selling ring.’

  ‘Jesus! How were we to know that?’ Steve stared at me.

  ‘There’s no way you could have known, except maybe if you’d got to know them better first. It’s possible you may have suspected something, but not necessarily, because, as you said, they were very convincing. Paula was given scripts to learn, told what not to say. Even if you’d done a search for them on the internet, you may never have picked up on it. Brown deliberately selected young vulnerable women like you. Ones that could do with the extra cash, that wouldn’t ask too many questions, or be picky about the paperwork. They had the fake parental orders all ready to go, which is why they didn’t take long to process. And the regular trips abroad were to meet potential buyers for the babies they advertised on the internet.’

  I shivered.

  ‘Hang on, you mean they advertised our babies for sale?’ Steve frowned.

  ‘I’m afraid so. The client would visit a specifically set up website, browse through the surrogate mothers, pick the one that suited them according to height, colouring and due date. They targeted rich couples prepared to pay big money for a blonde-haired white British baby like yours.’

  ‘There were pictures of me on their website?’ I could hardly take it in.

  ‘Yes, every time you sent them a photo update showing your bump, it was uploaded.’

  My mind flicked through all the intimate photos I’d emailed them at various stages of my pregnancy. Some of me wearing only a long T-shirt or a cropped top and low-slung j
oggers. People I didn’t know sizing me up like I was a golden goose.

  ‘Who does that? Who buys a baby they’ve never seen from someone they barely know?’ Steve opened his hands and snapped them shut again.

  ‘He’d meet the couples who registered an interest on the site. They could be anywhere in the world. He’d often tell them the same story, that the original couple the baby was meant for had changed their minds, and now this poor little baby didn’t have a family to go to. They’d fall for it, thinking they were doing a good thing, saving a child.’

  ‘Playing with people’s lives, with their feelings,’ I said.

  ‘We also found out that the woman following you is head of the European cell. Her job was to keep tabs on all their surrogates. It appears she bailed out of the country as soon as the news broke about Paula’s death. Interpol are assisting us in our hunt for her. Brown was a middle man, running the South East UK cell.’

  ‘This is big business then?’ Steve said.

  ‘It’s huge, especially in Asia. Europe is a relatively new target. Sources tell us it’s possible the root goes right back to a new branch of the Russian mafia, run by women.’

  ‘By women?’ Mum said.

  ‘Why would any woman do that?’ I took Rose back and kissed her nose. She blew a tiny bubble from her lips.

  ‘They hire agents like Brown to find surrogates on these unregulated forums. They make sure the women are in low-paid jobs, young and healthy; blonde-haired, blue-eyed are first choice, graded down.’

  ‘Like cattle,’ I said, running a hand over my hair.

  ‘They’re paid a good price, more than the women could ever expect to receive in their normal working lives; more than a year’s wages in many cases.’

  ‘And we were sucked in.’ I sighed. I wasn’t sure how much more I could listen to.

  ‘The agents, like Brown, would go and interview the potential parents, make sure they had the money to pay, and take a big deposit from them. Like I said before, babies are being sold all over the world for premium prices. He’d get a healthy cut, the European agent a bigger cut and the rest goes back to whoever is running this. Unfortunately, selling babies is a lucrative business.’