Chapter 43

FORTY-THREE

When Joanna arrived at the ward the next morning, two doctors were waiting for her beside Eliza's bed: the young doctor she'd seen the other day and a woman, with long dark hair and a professional smile who looked to be in her early forties and must be the consultant. Joanna tried to read their faces. ‘What is it? Is she okay?'

The consultant held out her hand to shake Joanna's. ‘Dr Daniela. Pleased to meet you. I've reviewed the results from both the first and second set of scans and I can't see anything of concern. We'll obviously keep an eye on things, but I've just given Eliza a thorough check and she's making great progress.'

Joanna couldn't quite believe what she was hearing. Surely it couldn't be that easy? ‘What about this mark on her brain? What is it?'

Dr James blushed. ‘I'm afraid that was me. I misread it. I'm very sorry to have caused you alarm.'

She didn't know whether to shout at him or kiss him. He was so young. Learning a job like this – holding the lives of babies in your hands – must be so incredibly hard. The look on the face of the older doctor spoke volumes about the words they'd said: she didn't want to make it worse for him. ‘Well, I'd rather you were over cautious than cavalier.'

He looked so relieved. In the culture of blame that everyone lived through he was probably expecting a very different response. He smiled at her gratefully. ‘I'm really glad she's okay.'

Once the doctors were gone, Jenny appeared by the side of the crib, a broad smile on her face. Joanna frowned at her. ‘I thought you were on the night shift last night? How come you're still here?'

‘I was on the night shift, but I wanted to see what happened with little Eliza. Are you okay?'

Kindness never failed to decimate a brave face and Joanna dissolved into tears. Jenny rubbed her back. ‘Come on, let's get your precious girl out for a cuddle. She'll make everything better.'

Jenny was right. Holding Eliza did make things feel better. She was all that mattered. ‘Hey baby girl. You gave your granny a scare.'

Jenny stroked Eliza's arm as she rearranged the oxygen tube. ‘Would you like me to lift her mask a little so that you see her properly?'

This was the first time anyone had even suggested that. It would be so wonderful to see her face. ‘Is it safe?'

Jenny raised an eyebrow. ‘I wouldn't suggest it if it wasn't. We're planning to move her from the mask to a nasal tube shortly. The doctor confirmed it today. I know you've had a scare just now, but she's doing well, Joanna. If she copes with the transition to a nasal tube, we might move her to the High Dependency Unit as soon as tomorrow.'

It had already been explained to Joanna that the High Dependency Unit – HDU – would be the next stage in Eliza's progress. ‘That's great. Will you come with her?'

Jenny's laugh was surprisingly light and girlish. ‘No. I belong here. But I'll tell them to take special care of her. And you.'

She reached over and lifted Eliza's oxygen mask just a little. Still holding it close enough that Eliza would be getting the good of it, it meant that – for the first time – Joanna could see her whole face at once. Her tiny perfect nose, twitching pink mouth, soft cheeks with the smallest suggestion of a dimple, a little chin with the exact same shape as Charlotte's. For a moment, the sight of Eliza's face took her breath away. ‘She looks so much like my daughter.'

Jenny tilted her head to see Eliza's face the right way up. ‘And a little like her granny, I think.'

Joanna couldn't take her eyes from her. Having had only one child, she'd thought the depth of love she'd had for Charlotte would never be replicated. Her own emotions had always been tied so tightly to those of her daughter. Any of Charlotte's bubbles of excitement, crushing disappointments, searing joys, Joanna felt them right alongside her. The love of a mother for a child was the only perfect love in the world.

But now, as she looked at her tiny yet absolutely perfect grandaughter, she felt a rush of such overwhelming love that she didn't know how to contain it. A fierce need to protect and love this child consumed her with a power that she'd never known. More like worship than love, she knew that she would never ever let anything happen to her as long as she had breath in her body.

Jenny took Joanna's free hand and showed her how to hold the mask near to Eliza's face. ‘I'll give you a few minutes.'

Eliza's eyes were screwed tightly shut until, as Joanna silently adored her, the hint of eyelashes flickered and opened, showing her grandmother the most beautiful translucent blue eyes. Tears formed in Joanna's own eyes at the very sight. ‘Hello, beautiful.'

Until lunchtime, Joanna spent her time between Eliza's cot and the corridor outside the ward checking her phone for a response from DC Lineham. At midday, she'd just left the ward to get herself a cup of coffee when her mobile rang in her pocket. DC Lineham's name on the call display. She held her breath as she answered the phone. ‘Hello?'

‘Hi Joanna, it's Abbie. How's Eliza?'

It was kind of her to always ask about the baby first, but Joanna was desperate to find out what was happening with Freddie. Had he retracted his confession? Had he told them about his mother? Had they believed him? ‘She's doing really well. Is there any news about the case?'

‘Yes. That's why I'm calling. Would you rather we met and spoke in person?'

‘No. It's fine. You can just tell me.'

‘Okay. Mr Knight-Crossley has retracted his confession. He was in possession of evidence of another person being involved and that information is now forming part of our investigation.'

‘Evidence? What evidence?'

‘I'm afraid I can't be specific about that at present. But we will obviously keep you informed of any developments. I hope that this has not come as too much of a shock.'

Joanna had spent too long with DC Lineham to lie to her. ‘No. It's not. That was why I left you those messages. Freddie told me yesterday. I know it's his mother. Will she be arrested? Can she get bail?'

There was a pause at the other end. Was that the sound of a door closing? Abbie's voice was lowered. ‘I can tell you that someone has been arrested. But I probably shouldn't tell you that the same someone was packing a bag containing their passport, so the likelihood of them getting bail is rather small.'

Joanna felt almost sick with relief. ‘She's going to prison? She's not going to get away with it?'

‘I can't say too much to you, Joanna, in case it compromises the investigation. But the evidence we have is quite compelling.'

‘What will happen to Freddie? Will he be released?'

‘Yes. As soon as the paperwork can be processed. We may need to speak to him again, but he will likely be released tomorrow morning. He may be cautioned for wasting police time, but the coercion from his mother will be taken into consideration. Are you okay? I can imagine that all of this is a lot to process.'

With her heart threatening to thump its way out of her chest, it was difficult to answer. ‘Yes. I'll be fine. I just want to know that the right person has been arrested for the crime.'

‘Yes. So do we. I'll speak to you again when I have more information.'

Joanna held her mobile to her chest and waited for her breathing to go back to normal. What was this evidence that Freddie had? And would it be enough?

There was also the fact that Freddie himself was going to be out in the world again. Of course, he would want to come and see his daughter. How was that going to affect the social worker's decision about guardianship? Would his claim be stronger than Joanna's? And would it now be wrong of her to even try?