Chapter 32
THIRTY-TWO
Georgia
The hospital staff have been kind to her. They’ve been patient with her incessant questions and have understood her desperation to know every detail of Declan’s medical care. They haven’t flinched when she’s standing right by them every time they change his drip or check his blood pressure.
Patrick has had all he can bear of being a witness to this; he’s always made jokes about how involved in her children’s lives Georgia is. ‘That’s why Ciara left,’ he’s told her countless times. ‘Do you want Declan to do the same?’
But there’s nothing wrong with being close to your children, so she’s ignored Patrick’s jibes over the years and she’s been proud of the mother she is.
Now, though, as she stares at her son, who is sleeping, she knows this is all her fault.
Georgia should never have encouraged him to go to university in London, she should have let him stay in Ireland – her brother, Mac, had been more than happy to let Declan rent his spare room.
Her son would have been happy there. Moving to Silverleaf Heights has caused him nothing but misery.
She strokes his blotched cheek, then fills his cup of water, even though Declan probably won’t wake up now until morning.
It’s hard to believe it only happened yesterday. Another overdose, this one even more pills than last time. She knows why. Last time his heart was broken. This time his life is over.
‘Mum.’
She looks up, and Declan is watching her. ‘How are you feeling, love?’
He doesn’t answer.
‘Well, it will take time to feel yourself again.’ She stands and smooths his bedsheet, tucking it in as if he’s a child.
‘Stop, Mum,’ Declan says. ‘Stop fussing.’
‘You gave us the fright of our lives.’ Georgia sits back down and offers him some water. ‘Again.’ She glances at the door. She knows two police officers are waiting outside. Her stomach tightens. ‘You mustn’t do that, d’you hear me? Me and your dad, we thought you were going to die.’
‘It’s what I deserve,’ he says.
Georgia wags her finger. ‘Don’t you say that.
We all make mistakes.’ Again, she glances at the door.
Can she really see this through? What will happen to Declan?
What she’s about to do will rip their family apart.
But first she needs some answers. She takes his hand.
‘Declan, I need to know why you did this. I understood the first time, but why now?’
He takes his time to answer, and his eyes blink too much. ‘I can’t live with what happened. What I did. Ria knows now.’ He stops blinking and stares at Georgia. ‘She doesn’t know everything, though.’
Georgia doesn’t know how she feels about this. It doesn’t really matter any more. She swallows the lump in her throat. ‘You’re going to get better,’ she says. ‘And then you’re going to finish your exams and get a good job in a law firm. D’you hear me?’
He doesn’t respond.
‘Has Ria called the police?’ he asks.
Georgia wants to tell him she hasn’t, but he’d never believe it. She glances at her watch. She doubts she’ll have much more time in here.
‘When will they come for me?’
‘They won’t.’
He stares at her, dumbfounded. ‘What do you mean? What have you done, Mum?’
She leans forward and takes his hand. ‘I’ve told them the truth, Declan. I can’t let you take responsibility for Kimmy’s death when it wasn’t you who killed her. And someone knows where her body is; they might talk.’
Declan’s mouth hangs open. ‘No . . . what have you done?’
Georgia watches her son and wonders if he’s reliving that night in his mind.
She’d watched him talking to Kimmy out on the green that night, watched him chase her towards the house, grab her hair.
She’d known then he was capable of hurting Kimmy, and she just wanted to protect her boy.
He should have been in hospital; he was vulnerable.
He didn’t deserve to go to prison because of that bitch.
But after she’d pulled him off, yelled at him to go back inside, things had got out of control.
The two women had argued and, suddenly, it was as if Georgia had become possessed.
She’d lunged at Kimmy, grabbing her by the neck, not letting go until it was too late and Kimmy was gone.
And then, the horror of what she had done sank in.
She didn’t even register that someone was shouting at her. Ria Cunningham. And then Declan was there, screaming at her to run to the house and lock the door. Telling her he’d take care of it.
And she had run, had shrunk back and hidden behind Patrick’s car, watching the scene unfold, pulling out her phone, bringing up the camera.
To this day she wishes she’d never taken the damn video.
She’d been pleased with how Declan had reacted – trying to silence Ria, protect his family.
But she was no fool. She knew her son was obsessed with Kimmy, that once the reality of her loss had sunk in, he might turn on her.
She wanted the video as an insurance policy, even against her beloved son.
What she hadn’t bargained for was that Declan would get hold of it – and send it to Ria, of all people.
Why he did that, she will never understand.
Maybe he saw it as a way of warning Ria off, a warped attempt at protecting her.
He always did have a thing for older women.
This is exactly why she needs to supervise her son, to protect him at all costs.
She clutches her phone – she needs to delete the video.
Ria might have a copy, but she doesn’t know that Georgia was the one who took it.
And Georgia won’t let her boy go to prison; he’s too fragile.
‘I’ll tell them what I did to Kimmy,’ Georgia says. ‘And I’ll say that I was the one who attacked Ria. You can’t tell from the video. I won’t let you ruin your life.’
Declan tries to pull himself up. ‘No, Mum! I can’t let you do that.’ He grabs her arm, squeezes her wrist. Losing control again.
‘Stop,’ she says, easing him back down and plumping his pillow. ‘Just let me take care of it all.’
‘It won’t work,’ Declan says. ‘Ria will tell them it was me who attacked her, who killed Alicia.’
Georgia shakes her head. ‘Yes, she will, but she has no proof. Alicia’s death looks like a suicide.
And the attack on Ria happened a year ago – she can’t even remember it!
Her medical records might show that, and that her brain injury could have impaired her judgement.
All she has is that video – and I’ll say it was me. ’
‘But it was me. Ria, Alicia . . .’ He trails off weakly.
Georgia smiles. ‘You only did that for me. I’m proud of you.’ She turns to look at the door. ‘I have to go now, Declan. Your dad’s just gone to get a coffee. He’ll be here for you.’
She heads to the door, but turns back. ‘Oh, just one thing.’ Her eyes narrow as she steps towards him. ‘Don’t you ever hurt a dog again. Do you hear me?’
Outside Declan’s room, one of the officers standing guard nods to her. ‘Ready to go to the station?’ he asks.
Georgia nods. ‘Yes. I’m ready.’ She needs to get this over with so she can get on with cleaning the house.