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.
She didn’t answer him. He didn’t expect her to. That was okay. He knew his mum was watching over him. She always had.
Watching them walk to their car, Dylan ran a hand hard under his nose. ‘It doesn’t matter. I still love her,’ he said, with a determined nod. ‘And I know she loves me. She showed me how much she loves me.’
Dylan thought about it and made a decision: ‘We need to bring Angel home. Be a proper family, just like Jade wanted.’
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A Letter from Sheryl
Dear Reader,
Thank you so much for choosing to read The Babysitter. I really hope you enjoyed it.
If you would like to keep up to date with my latest book news, please do sign up at the website link below. Your email address will never be shared and you can unsubscribe at any time.
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This wasn’t the easiest story to write, as it does touch on subjects that some might find difficult to deal with – loss and mental issues around bereavement in particular. I tend to gravitate towards family, family dynamics and just how strong a family unit can be when faced with adversity. Yes, I do sometimes write from personal experience. Even then, though, careful research is called for in order write about such issues sensitively and honestly. I would like to thank those people who have shared their stories with me and also those people who have been there for me: my family, my friends, not least my wider circle of friends that now includes wonderful bloggers, reviewers and readers who encourage me every step of the way.
Thank you. I really could not do this without you. If you have enjoyed the book, I would love it if you could share your thoughts and write a brief review. Reviews mean the world to an author and will help a book find its wings. I would also love to hear from you via Facebook or Twitter or my website.
Keep safe everyone and Happy Reading.
Sheryl x
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Acknowledgements
I would like to offer a massive thank you to the team at Bookouture, without whom The Babysitter would never have been born. Special thanks to Helen Jenner, whose patience, enthusiasm and editing skills have made the story the best it can be, and to Peta Nightingale for loving the initial idea enough to give the book its wings.
Special thanks also to Kim Nash for her quiet determination, absolute professionalism, unstinting support and belief in me, and to all the other lovely, friendly and super-supportive authors at blogger and author events organised by Kim. We share the highs and the lows and realise we have one thing in common that drives us on – our love of writing.
I owe a huge debt of gratitude to those bloggers and reviewers who have taken time to read my
books, review those books and shout out endlessly for me. I so often say I couldn’t do this without you. I simply couldn’t. Your passion leaves me in absolute awe. Thank you! Huge thanks, too, to Shell Baker, who led me by the hand around the maze that is often Facebook groups – gave me a push in the right direction when I needed it and who works her socks off for authors.
Final thanks to every single reader out there for your tremendous support – every book sold, every positive comment and every review spurs a writer to keep on writing when the going might get tough – and to Drew, who was there, quietly encouraging his mad mother on, when it did.
One thing that I have learned from these special people around me is to never be afraid to reach out. So often when you do, you find someone has been there, and that that someone cares.
Published by Bookouture
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An imprint of StoryFire Ltd.
Carmelite House
50 Victoria Embankment
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Copyright © Sheryl Browne 2018
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Sheryl Browne has asserted her right to be identified as the author of this work.
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All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in any retrieval system, or transmitted, in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording or otherwise, without the prior written permission of the publishers.
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This book is a work of fiction. Names, characters, businesses, organizations, places and events other than those clearly in the public domain, are either the product of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, events or locales is entirely coincidental.
ISBN: 978-1-78681-340-4
The Babysitter Page 31