8

      I’ve got a bit of time, I’ll be around in about half an hour. See u soon. Kiss to Mia. F x

      Bree stared at the text in horror as she sat in the corner of McDonald’s finishing off her meal deal. Her heart raced and she didn’t know if it was the cheeseburger that was suddenly making her feel queasy, but she was overwhelmed with nausea as she got up and rushed out into the street.

      She ran back across the road, pushing the buggy with Mia crying loudly as she sprinted past the grey railings at the top of Ruston Road, passing a young girl, who was clearly out of it on drugs and sitting with bloodshot eyes, sweating and shaking, slumped over on the pavement.

      With the buggy bouncing all over, Bree dashed down the road, panic setting in.

      Getting to the door, Bree’s hand shook as she rummaged in her bag for the keys. God, where were they? She didn’t have them. Shit … Alarmed and panic making it difficult for her to think clearly, Bree’s heart raced as she looked again at the bottom of her small clutch bag. She glanced nervously over her shoulder as she checked her pockets.

      ‘Mia, please don’t cry, Mummy’s trying to find something.’ She tried to smile at her daughter who was still screaming and, annoyed at herself for even thinking it was ever going to be okay to go out without Franny’s permission, she rocked the pram. ‘Sshhhh, Mia, it’s okay, darling, Mummy will get you inside soon.’ Her voice cracked with emotion and she fought back tears. She had no idea what she was going to do, and she was genuinely afraid of what Franny would say – what she’d do – if she found her out here.

      Looking back down at her daughter, Bree suddenly gripped the pram and closed her eyes, an overwhelming sense of relief hitting her. The keys. Of course, she’d put them under Mia’s blanket. Grabbing them quickly, Bree fumbled and hurriedly put the right key in the lock, opening the outer entrance before rushing over to the door that led up to her flat.

      Inside and aware that the clock was ticking, Bree tried to heave the buggy up the stairs, but it was too heavy and quickly she took Mia out, taking the stairs two at a time.

      Throwing off the blanket, Bree placed Mia back into her cot before charging back down, dragging the empty buggy up and pushing it into the corner of the room where it was always kept. Checking she hadn’t missed anything, Bree heard her front door open.

      ‘Hi, only me!’

      ‘Hi, Fran.’ She could hear her voice on edge as she tried to calm herself, then looking down, horrified, she realised she still had her jacket on. Hearing Franny’s footsteps getting nearer, she furiously tugged it off, throwing it on the floor before kicking it under the chair.

      Wiping the perspiration off her face and drying the sweat from her palms on the sides of her trousers, self-consciously, Bree smiled as Franny stepped into the room carrying a large shopping bag.

      ‘Hey, good to see you. It’s a nice surprise.’ Her voice trilled, and Bree wasn’t sure if it was paranoia, but it somehow sounded too loud for the small space. With all the running around the pressure was getting to her.

      ‘You look hot,’ Franny said gruffly.

      Bree could hardly get her breath and it felt like she’d been stripped of air. ‘Me? Do I? I’m fine. Yeah, God yeah, totally.’

      Franny’s gaze was unwavering. ‘If you’re fine, why do you look so flustered?’

      Animated, Bree waved her hands around. ‘It’s just Mia, she won’t stop crying. Gets a bit much after a while.’

      Cutting her eyes in annoyance at Bree, Franny, unable to deal with having to prop Bree up emotionally on top of everything else, snapped, ‘She’s a baby, Bree, what do you expect? I hope you haven’t just left her there crying?’ She walked towards Mia, scooping her up in her arms, and immediately Mia fell silent. ‘See, that’s all she needed, a bit of TLC. I sometimes wonder about you and where your head’s at. You can be so selfish. Don’t leave her like that, you hear me? And why are her hands cold again? Have you had this window open?’

      Bree nodded. She didn’t care what Franny thought as long as she didn’t think she’d been out. ‘Yes … er … it was a bit hot.’

      ‘Well that’s stupid to have it open by her, she’ll get ill. She’ll get a chest infection. It’s common sense, Bree.’

      Bree gave a tight smile. ‘I’m sorry.’

      Agitated, partly from the guilt she felt from what she was doing not only to Alfie but also to Bree, Franny walked over to pour herself a glass of water as Mia nuzzled happily in her neck. She shrugged. ‘Well it ain’t me you need to say sorry to …’ She trailed off before begrudgingly adding, ‘Anyway, how are you?’

      Not seeming so much on edge, Bree sat on the chair by the window. ‘I’m okay – the usual.’

      The tension in the air between the two women was palpable as the room fell silent. Eventually Franny said, ‘Look, I can’t stay long, I just brought some shopping for you and there’s a few bits for Mia as well. I better go. Alfie will be wondering where I am and I’ve got to speak to Vaughn today, which I’m not looking forward to. Anyway, I’ll call you.’ Kissing Mia, Franny handed her back to Bree, walking out of the room and down the stairs without looking back.

      Letting out a long sigh of relief, Bree turned and put Mia back in her cot. She smiled at her daughter, who was attempting to chew on her own hand.

      Although going outside hadn’t gone as smoothly as it could’ve done, thinking about it she felt better than she had done in a long while. She’d needed to get out and so had Mia. Maybe next time she’d go to the park. She had to be careful of course but that …

      ‘Bree?’ Franny’s voice behind her made her jump, cutting into her thoughts. She swivelled around to come face-to-face with Franny who stared at her coldly, her eyes dark and emotionless, her face drawn and taut.

      ‘Bree?’

      Pushing herself back against the cot, Bree began to shake, unsure quite what was going on as Franny repeated her name with a tone that forced a chill through her body.

      ‘Bree …’

      Bree’s voice was only just audible. ‘Yes?’

      Stepping in