Chapter 69
Venetia
Thursday
Venetia is on a high. That felt good. Laying the baby on the grass.
The confused look on its face. The sun in its eyes.
Squinting. Too small to do anything else.
It couldn’t roll or move or protect itself in any way.
Just like Aimee couldn’t, once Rory saw that message.
Venetia makes her way through Oakpark, passing a big, leafy green.
Two women are setting up trestle tables, covering them in white cloths.
A tall stack of crates sits nearby—plastic glasses glinting in the sun.
Venetia’s been at parties like this, but only ever filling, serving, cleaning, gathering.
Will Susan be at this party? Venetia smiles to herself.
After what she’s just been through, probably not.
She keeps going, taking a shortcut through the trees, toward the road home, imagining Susan’s panic.
Imagining her shock at the empty crib. Her frantic search.
Her confusion at finding the baby lying on the lawn.
She might think she did it herself. She might think someone is coming to get her.
Someone is coming to get her. It’s been cathartic, toying with her. Enough though. It’s time.