The Girl Who Lied(41)

‘Mmm, thanks,’ says Ed. ‘It’s a bit stressful at work at the moment, not helped by your absence. Look, Erin, how long do you think it will be before you’re back?’

‘Honest answer? I don’t know,’ I say. ‘There’s still no change with Dad. They’ve carried out a neurological evaluation but they said it’s difficult to get an accurate understanding of what’s happening in his brain. Sometimes his brain is quite responsive but other times not so much because he’s sedated. They’re talking about bringing him out of the induced coma. I can’t come back to England yet. Mum still needs me.’

‘Can’t come back to England,’ repeats Ed.

‘That’s right. Not until the doctors can give a more definite prognosis.’

‘Yes, I heard that bit,’ snaps Ed. ‘That’s not what I was referring to. You used the words can’t come back to England. Don’t you mean you can’t come home? England is your home, Erin, not Ireland. God, how many times have you told me that?’

‘Don’t be so pedantic,’ I say. I totally hadn’t noticed my turn of phrase. ‘Does it really matter?’

‘It matters to me. Besides, I’m not sure how long I can keep this imposed amendment to the staff rota. Amber can’t cover all your clients forever.’

‘Seriously, Ed, I really could do without that sort of pressure at the moment,’ I say. ‘Look, I’ve got to go, I’m at the café and I’ve got customers waiting to be served. I’ll speak to you later.’

‘And you’ve got clients waiting here,’ says Ed. ‘To put it bluntly, I may have to start looking for a replacement for you. A permanent replacement.’

That had been yesterday and I have no more desire now than I did then to pick up the phone and call Ed. What’s the point? We would only end up rowing. No, I’ll wait until next weekend when he is over for the naming ceremony. We can talk face to face. It’s always much better that way.

I’m not entirely sure whether Ed was serious or whether he was just having a frustrated temper tantrum. Would he really find a replacement for me? And when he said replacement, what exactly was he referring to? My job or me?

I mull this over as I take some rubbish out to the wheelie bin later that afternoon. As I close the lid to the bin, something makes me turn and look up at the rear of the two-storey doctor’s surgery. I scan the windows, but the one-way glass prevents me from seeing anything other than the reflection of the shops.

I have the sensation of being watched. It makes me feel uneasy and I hurry back inside.

Roisin was standing at the upstairs window of the surgery. She often stood there in her coffee break looking out at the rear of the shops. Her eyes were automatically drawn to Seahorse Café.

Sometimes, she would get a glimpse of Erin. Today, Erin actually turned around and gazed up at the building. The one-way glass meant Roisin couldn’t be seen. It gave her an amazing sense of power. She stared straight at Erin. It brought a small smile of satisfaction to Roisin’s face.

It had been several weeks since Erin arrived in Rossway and Roisin had been playing the waiting game. Erin seemed to be fitting rather too well into the village again. The Wright family had certainly taken to her. If only they knew the truth, especially Kerry. Roisin was sure he wouldn’t be so fascinated with her then. But first, Roisin needed to get some sort of confirmation as to what she suspected the truth about the pregnancy was. The Hurley family had a secret.

She thought of Marie at the hospital. It must be tiring to have to sit there every day watching her husband. Surely it was taking its toll on the woman. Maybe now her defences would be weak…

Roisin continued to stare at the café, long after Erin had disappeared back inside. Her fingers drummed a steady beat on the side of the coffee cup she clasped in her hands. Roisin needed to up her game.

It was mid-afternoon and Roisin had timed her visit to the hospital just right. Erin would be busy in the café and Fiona would be picking up the children from school. Marie would be alone.

Roisin came to a halt at the end of the corridor and took a moment to steel herself. She found the small four-bed ward on her right. Looking through the glass in the door, she could see Marie sitting beside Jim. She was slightly slumped forwards and her head hung down, like she had nodded off.

Roisin pushed open the door. There was a soft release of suction as it swung inwards. Her trainers squeaked on the flooring and the nurse looked up from the patient she was attending to.

Roisin gestured towards Marie and smiled. The nurse didn’t challenge her and nodded before returning to her patient.