Chapter 38
GENIE
Now
The holiday was just what we all needed but now we’re back we’ve got Cassie’s GCSE results to deal with and #thegirlinthesong media storm has only intensified with Amira Malik, the major TikTok influencer, who has now named me as #thegirlinthesong and revealed that I was indeed pregnant when I left Bournemouth.
The children have had to lock down their social media accounts to private to avoid the vile trolling and incessant media requests they have been bombarded with.
I don’t really check my Facebook account very often but since I contacted my friend Emma via messenger, I’ve been obsessively checking it. She obviously didn’t check hers much either because it wasn’t until we were back home that it showed that she had even read it.
Gray was at work when the message came through, so I had time to really digest what she said.
Wow! I never expected to hear from you again Evie (sorry can’t think of you as any name apart from Evie!) But since all the recent publicity from the Netflix documentary I put two and two together and realised that it was you that Ed Nash was looking for.
In answer to your question about your daughter, there was a new family that appeared at church with a baby not long after you left, and the dates seemed to add up.
I don’t really think it’s safe or secure to talk over messenger.
Is there any way that we could possibly meet to discuss further.
I swear to you that it wasn’t me that told that Amira Malik that you were pregnant, but I have a feeling I know who did.
Sorry to sound mysterious but I would like to tell you what I know face to face.
All the best – Emma x
I re-read Emma’s message repeatedly, looking for clues as to exactly what she really meant.
She was such a support to me in Bournemouth and always seemed trustworthy.
Can I really trust her now? I like to think that I was a good judge of character back then and indeed now, so to hell with it, I will meet up with her. I quickly compose a quick message back.
Thank you, Emma, for getting in touch and I appreciate any help that you can give me and just like you did all those years ago, I really do value your discretion. Send me your mobile number and I’ll message you suggestions of where to meet.
Thanks again
Genie x
This time Emma responds almost immediately with her mobile number, and I carefully word a WhatsApp message back to her with our address and an invitation to stay the night.
I haven’t bothered to check the arrangements with Gray as since the holiday I have decided to start to take control of my life.
I know that Gray only ever has my best interests at heart but ever since we first met, he has always tried to fix me, to smooth away my upsets and worries, but on this occasion, it’s me that needs to make the decisions that ultimately could reunite me with my daughter.
And both Gray and Cassie are right that Ed does deserve to know that he really does have a daughter.
I’m not sure how or when I’m going to reach out to him, but I do know that he is going to be part of my future, whether I like it or not.
But for now, I’m excited about meeting Emma again.
She was always such a support, and I feel bad that I never got in touch over the years, but I felt that I needed to protect myself as well as Emma at the time.
I spend the rest of the day indoors as Cassie has gone to meet up with a load of her friends on Richmond Green, a kind of pre results gathering before they all go their separate ways.
I’ve let her take a few beers from the fridge with her.
I know she’s only sixteen, but I like to parent in a different way to my mother, so I turn a blind eye to a little bit of underage drinking.
If I keep saying no, she’ll just rebel - like I did!
Will is at Tommy’s as usual. Tommy’s mum has a houseful of sons, so she always says one more doesn’t make a difference.
Both children have been sworn to secrecy about not discussing the recent media revelations.
We did tentatively think about keeping them home, but I know from bitter experience how that can backfire, so we have put our trust in them instead.
Only time will tell if this has been a wise move.
I busy myself by working my way through the holiday washing. It’s a boring and repetitive job but it keeps me off social media. Cassie has even set up an anonymous TikTok account for me, so I’ve been able to catch up on the latest gossip from Amira Malik.
Although my life is in free fall, I find myself humming along to the radio, finding solace in the humdrum of ordinary life.
That’s all I’ve ever really wanted. An ordinary life.
A happy life with a loving husband and children and a close friend who you could depend on in a crisis.
And of course, I have all of that, but my long-kept secret seems to be out there now.
I’ve been ignoring the phone calls from my dad, which I know will have been instigated by my mother.
The Daily Mail has repeated details of Amira’s recent revelations.
I feel bad not to speak to my dad, but I’m petrified that my mother will intercept the call and it’ll be like when my she realised I was pregnant, and I never want to feel like that ever again.
And at the grand old age of forty-nine, why should I?
I cast all thoughts of my mother out of my mind and concentrate my efforts on getting the guest room ready for Emma’s visit.
Only two days to wait and I still need to break the news to Gray.
Knowing Gray, he’ll be a bit taken aback at first, but I know he’ll come round eventually if I explain my reasons for meeting up with Emma.
I choose a pretty floral duvet set for Emma and make up the bed in readiness for her visit.
I’m intrigued by her recent message, and I start counting the hours off in my head until we are finally reunited.