Michael knew that Declan was right. Patrick was oblivious to them. It was frightening, but Michael couldn’t help his morbid fascination at the man’s obvious lunacy. Patrick looked wrong; he was not just manic, he was without any kind of boundaries or guidelines. Everything that kept them at the top of their game was now going to destroy everything they had worked for. It was unbelievable, and Michael was well aware that he had to be the one to take control, because Declan wouldn’t.

Chapter Thirty-Six

Chapter Thirty-Six

Josephine was happier than she had been for a very long time. She was still pregnant, and she was still the only person who knew about it. She was not going to tell anyone until she had to. She had let everyone down so many times in the past, she wasn’t going to chance it again. The pain of each loss became more acute – it never lessened. Everyone she saw would give her clichés and pity. It was the pity she hated the most. She could feel this baby inside of her every minute of every day. She felt different this time, she was convinced of that. It felt right somehow. It was her secret to keep, this was her own private happiness. Her silence meant no one was watching her every move, questioning every expression on her face, asking if she was feeling ill, or if she was off-colour, telling her to sit down or lie down as if she was dying or something, searching her face constantly for the first signs of pain, followed by the miscarriage they had been expecting all along. No one forcing her to rest, or sitting with her so she never had any time on her own. It was wearing having so many people caring for you, tiring trying to be upbeat and constantly pretending that you weren’t terrified of losing yet another baby down the toilet. This was so much better for her. This was far more relaxing.

She rubbed her belly gently, caressing her child and hoping that this time she might actually get the chance to hold this one in her arms.

Michael’s mother was the real bugbear; she felt the woman almost wished the losses on her daughter-in-law. She was a vicious old bitch who saw Michael as hers and no one else’s. A child, a living child, would cement their marriage and she believed that was something Hannah didn’t want. She felt awful even thinking it, but it was the truth.

She heard Michael’s car as it crunched on to the driveway. He was early; she had not even thought about any dinner for them – not that he would care, of course.