Page 22 of Wounded Hearts

Mara looked away embarrassed at her weakness. “No.”

“Mara. Look at me.” Lauren sounded firm but kind and it reminded Mara of her own mother which made her lips tilt into a small, sad smile. Looking up she saw the same look too. Maybe it was something all mothers could do, that stern kindness. The thought made her heart ache in her chest for her losses.

“Listen to me. What happened wasn’t your fault. You had no choice but now you do. So tell me, what do you like the look of?” Mara looked around and a petrol blue wool dress with a cowl neck caught her eye. It was classy and yet sexy in an understated way.

Lauren followed her stare and grinned. “I love that dress.”

Mara walked over to it and took her size off the rack. The sleeves were long, and it would probably hit her mid-calf but teamed with tan boots it would look amazing.

“You should try it on.” Lauren took it from her and folded it over her arm as if she was her personal shopper. “What else?”

Smiling, Mara picked up some straight leg dark jeans, a pair of grey trousers, and three tops along with a couple of pairs of boots.

“Well, that’s a good start. Let me grab something to try on too.” They moved towards the changing rooms and Ava, Lizzie, and Roz followed. Ava and Lizzie had an armful of clothes, but Roz’s hands were empty.

“Couldn’t you find anything?” Mara asked.

“Nah, not in the mood for trying stuff on.”

Mara sensed it was more that she wanted to be on guard for her, and she appreciated it.

Inside the changing rooms they each tried on an item and then showed the others. They all ‘oohed’ and ‘aahed’ over each item and Mara found herself relaxing and really enjoying herself for what felt like the first time in years.

She was changing back into her own clothes when she heard the others leave the cubicles. The silence was deafening after the girly chatter and laughter. These women were a blast and despite her trepidation, she was so glad she’d come. As she left her cubicle, she heard the sound of a crying baby and moved towards the fire exit door on autopilot. The alarm light was off, so she pushed it open and looked around for the source of the sound. Stepping out, she saw a dark car parked further up the road. Her heart thudded in her chest when she spotted the woman from the party standing beside it, watching her with a frightening intensity. She was about to step closer when the woman got in the car and drove away without saying a word.

A noise behind her made her jump and she turned to see Roz.

“What the hell are you doing?” Roz snapped with a furious glare Mara thought could freeze lava.

“I thought I heard a baby cry but there isn’t one.” She scanned the alley again, bewildered by what had just happened. An icy finger of fear slid down her spine.

Roz pointed to letter on the ground with her name scrawled across it in scratchy handwriting. “What’s that?”

Mara bent to pick it up but halted as Roz batted her hand away. “Wait.”

Mara looked at her shocked. “Prints.” Roz responded and grabbed a tissue from her pocket to pick up the envelope. “I always keep tissues handy. I have sticky, messy kids,” she said by way of explanation. Roz glanced around then pulled Mara inside making sure the door was firmly shut behind them. The other women had appeared now looking concerned.

“What happened?” Ava asked as she crouched close to Mara as she sat on the bench along the mirror.

“I heard a baby crying so I went to look. It would freeze in this weather but there wasn’t a baby and the woman from the party was standing beside her car just looking at me. Then she drove off.”

“Is this the woman you told me about that scared you?” Lizzie asked.

Mara nodded. “Yes.”

Roz was watching her intently now. “Did she say anything?”

“Not a word, just stared at me then drove away.”

“Should we open the letter?” Lauren asked.

“We should probably wait,” Ava interjected.

“No, I want to know.” Mara snatched the letter from Roz and tore it open as Roz swore.

Her face paled as she began to read.

Mara.

I know where your secrets are buried.

Meet me at the entrance to Queens Wood at midnight and your secrets will stay buried.

Someone knew.Somehow they had found out. Bile filled her mouth and she could distantly hear voices as her world came crumbling in on her.