The Faithless - Martina Cole [102]
Her first attempt had been lousy – she had been too young and she had had her children with the wrong man – but now, with this little one, she felt she had a chance to redeem herself, make her life mean something. She could turn this child into a good person. If she was left with her mother she would end up like her mother. A teenage unmarried mum, a fucking waster, worth nothing – nothing of value anyway. Not as far as Cynthia was concerned.
The baby was like a magnet, and she felt a pull that she had never felt before in her life. She wanted this child. And she would move heaven and earth to get it.
Chapter Ninety-Three
‘She was my sister, Mum. I have every right to be here.’
Mary looked into her daughter’s face and wondered what was the real reason this girl of hers had turned up on her doorstep at Celeste’s wake. She could hazard a guess, but she was sure she would be wrong. Cynthia had not even wanted her own children, so why would she want a grandchild? Mary had felt she had no choice but to let her into the house and then she had seen the naked hunger in Cynthia’s eyes as she had looked at little Cherie in her bassinet.
When Cynthia marched into the sitting room and immediately bent over the cradle to pick the baby up somehow Mary knew that her daughter had seen the child before, and she had felt as if she was witnessing a crime. Never had Cynthia been that gentle with her own children.
‘If you’re feeling maternal why don’t you go and visit your son? I’m sure he could do with a bit of motherly interest.’
Cynthia held the child to her as she said dreamily, ‘Why don’t you have a day off, Mum? I know I made mistakes, but this is my grandchild and, whether you like it or not, that is the truth of the matter. She reminds me of my Gabriella at the same age. She’s such a lovely child.’ Cynthia knew that Gabby could hear her from her bedroom and she continued in a hurt voice, ‘I hope you don’t alienate this child from Gabriella like you alienated her from me. I was already aware I had made a big mistake marrying James, but it was you my kids wanted, wasn’t it, not me. You made sure of that.’
Mary was incensed. ‘How dare you! I took your kids in when you got fed up with them. I loved them like my own.’
Cynthia knew that was the truth, but she ignored it and said in a placating manner, ‘Please, Mum, it’s Celeste’s funeral. Have a bit of respect.’
Mary was so furious at the words of her daughter she was rendered speechless. How could she say that to her, after all she had done! Her daughter was a manipulator who used everyone around her. Well, she would not use her any more, those days were long gone.
‘You are welcome only to pay your respects. After that you can piss off.’
‘I must say, Mum, that is you all over.’
Cynthia hugged the child to her; from her first contact with it she knew that this was a child that was meant to be with her. She loved it. The child was perfect in every way, like her little Gabriella when she was born, except now Cynthia was older and wiser, and she finally understood what flesh and blood meant. What made women kill for their kids, and what life was all about. She had never realised until this moment. The moment she had held her grandchild in her arms.
Cynthia was looking at the child with such love that even Mary wondered if she had been wrong about her daughter. Could it be that she wanted a second chance at motherhood?
Watching Cynthia, Gabby was completely convinced that there was genuine love in her mother for this child of hers. It hurt, knowing that she hadn’t felt that way about her or her brother, but she was glad she felt like that about little Cherie. The baby had so few people in her little life