Page 70 of Plot Twist

‘A memorial? What, like another funeral?’

‘Well, I suppose. More of a remembrance thing. Maybe let off balloons into the sky or something. I don’t know exactly yet. I need to confirm it with Drew, too. But you’ll come, won’t you, Becca? We couldn’t have it without you there. When will you be back from Ireland?’

Confirm it with Drew. I rolled my eyes. As if he needed any more of an excuse to act like he was so important, so involved in everything. The prick.

‘I’m not sure yet,’ I replied, honestly. ‘But I’ll let you know when I do.’

‘OK, love. Jim sends his love, too. And Adam. He’s been keeping me in the loop with all the stories about Rae you’ve been sending him. Thank you, Becca. I think it’s really helping him.’

‘He’s been keeping me smiling too,’ I said. ‘Thanks, Linda. Good night.’

Bridget came out to see me as I hung up the phone, leaving me wondering if she’d been eavesdropping. Her eyes darted around nervously.

‘Oh, thank God you’re off,’ she said. ‘I need to ask you a huge favour. Come inside.’

‘Of course.’ I smiled, following her in. ‘Ask me anything.’

‘Will you watch Ivy for us in the morning?’

‘Of course I will,’ I replied.

‘Thank you,’ she said.

Ellie appeared by her side.

‘Ask me why,’ she said.

‘What do you mean?’ I asked.

‘Ask us why we need you to look after Ivy,’ Ellie said.

Their eyes danced in front of me.

‘The adoption agency called,’ Bridget burst in. ‘They think they’ve found us a match.’

The two women clutched each other’s hands and Bridget squealed. Loudly. The next thing I knew, I was joining in.

We hugged and jumped around.

‘Wow, this is amazing! Tell me everything. What did they say?’

We gathered around their kitchen island for the update.

‘That was all they said. They couldn’t give any more details over the phone,’ Ellie explained.

‘It was like getting a call from a secret agent. We put her on speaker phone and asked a million questions, but she said she’d tell us everything in person tomorrow. Oh, Ellie, this could really be it!’ Bridget beamed.

‘The only problem is, of course, the timing with the new business. Would you stay and be our receptionist, Becca? I think we have something that’s going to convince you.’

‘What?’ I raised an eyebrow.

‘Well, while you’re working for us, you could stay in one of the apartments while we sort everything out with Riley and Jackie and all the rest. You would have your own space, your own job and come and go as you please. For as long as you like,’ Bridget said. ‘What do you think?’

Ach, shite. The pair of them were so excited about everything. They’d obviously dreamed of this moment for so long. I couldn’t ruin it for them. They were relying on my help and I had promised them I would take on the job.

I took a deep breath in before exhaling.

How could I tell them that I had to leave now?