CHAPTER SEVENTY-SIX

THE NEXT DAY

Martha decided to meet Roo for breakfast at the diner the next morning. They sat at a table outside; the sun was shining and there was a nice breeze. Martha was still angry about Megan turning up the day before; so she really needed somebody to vent to, and her mother was the perfect choice.

"So after everything that she done, she still had the nerve to show up at your place?" Roo said.

"Yeah," Martha nodded. "I was so angry when I got home and found her there. I just wanted to hit her, but I managed to control myself," she explained.

"I wouldn't blame you if you did hit her," Roo exclaimed. "From what I've heard, she caused a lot of trouble".

"She even had the cheek to tell Jack that she had changed and that she was sorry for everything that she had done. Please, as if," Martha scoffed. "And then, right in front of me, she offers herself to Jack; telling him that he'll come to his senses one day and he'll leave me, and that her door will always be open to him. God, she makes me sick," she continued.

"Sounds like a nasty piece of work," Roo pointed out.

"She is," Martha agreed. She let out a loud sigh; she was happy that she had gotten all that off of her chest.

Martha heard a small cry coming from Laila's pram. She stood up and pulled her daughter out. "I should probably get you home. You're probably starting to get hungry, aren't you?" she smiled down at her.

"I might come with you," Roo said. "I'll push the pram and you can carry Laila," she suggested as they got up from the table.

"Hey," a voice called from behind them. Martha looked up; it was Jack.

"Hi," she gave him a quick kiss when he reached them. "We were just about to head home. You coming with?" she asked.

"Yep," Jack answered.

They set off through the park; walking back to Martha and Jack's place. Up ahead, Martha spotted Megan coming towards them.

"Oh god," Martha groaned. "I thought she would have left by now," she said to Jack.

"Is that her?" Roo wanted to know.

"Unfortunately," Jack exclaimed with a frown.

"Hey guys," Megan smiled sweetly when she reached them.

"What do you want?" Jack asked her.

"Geez Jack, when did you get so rude?" Megan smirked.

"Since you tried to screw around with our lives," Martha snapped at her.

Megan ignored Martha's comment and looked over at Roo. "And you are?" she asked rudely.

"I'm Martha's mother," Roo answered.

Megan frowned a little. "I thought Martha's mother was dead," she said.

"Megan," Jack scolded.

"What?" Megan scoffed. "I thought she was," she added.

"She's my biological mother, you moron," Martha snapped at her. "My adopted mother was the one who died," she explained.

"Oops, my mistake," Megan laughed. She then looked back at Roo. "So, you're the one who gave her away at birth then?" she said.

Roo gasped a little. "Pardon?" she exclaimed.

Martha could feel her temper flaring. "What the hell is your problem?" she yelled at Megan.

Jack turned to Martha and tried to calm her down. "Calm down, you'll scare Laila," he said softly. Jack then turned back to Megan. "I suggest you turn around and walk in the other direction. I already warned you last night. Stay away from us," he ordered.

"Fine," Megan stated. She smiled smartly and then walked off. "Toodles," she called out.

"My goodness," Roo started. "She's worse than I expected".

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LATER THAT EVENING

Martha and Jack were sitting on the couch with Laila; watching a movie. Kim and Kit were lying on the floor with some cushions.

Martha stood up and took Laila out of Jack's arms. "I'm going to feed her and then put her to bed," she told Jack. "I'll be back soon," she smiled before walking off to her room.

She placed Laila on the bed and pulled out a clean white jumpsuit to put her in. Martha quickly changed her and then made herself comfortable on the bed so that she could feed her. After about twenty minutes Laila drifted off to sleep. Martha gently wrapped her up in her crisp white blanket and placed her in the crib.

Martha then pulled out her own pajamas; a white singlet and a white pair of shorts, out from a draw and put them on. She then walked back over to the crib.

"Good night angel," she said softly as she caressed Laila's cheek.

She then walked out of the room; closing the door behind her.

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Megan quietly crept around the side of the house; trying her hardest not to knock anything over or make a noise. Luckily for her it was dark; so nobody would see her sneaking around.

She watched through the window as Martha changed and fed the baby. Martha then got changed herself, and then said goodnight to her daughter before walking out of the room and closing the door.

Megan waited about five minutes before trying the window. Thankfully, it was unlocked. She pushed it up and then pulled herself up and through the window. She moved quietly across the floor until she reached the baby crib. The little girl was fast asleep.

She placed her hands under the child and lifted her out. She then moved back towards the window. She sat on the ledge and swung her feet around. She then quickly, but gently, pushed herself away from the window. She landed safely on the ground. She looked down at the child; still asleep.

Megan let out a loud sigh and started to walk away. She walked through the front garden and continued on down the street until she reached her car. She strapped the baby into Grace's old baby capsule. She then got into the car herself and started it up.

Megan smiled to herself as she drove away; on her way back to the city. She didn't feel any guilt whatsoever. They'd treated her like she was worthless, and it was their fault that she no longer had her own daughter. Maybe now they'd know how it felt.

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HALF AN HOUR LATER

Martha was lying on the couch with her head resting on Jack's lap. She was tired and she kept yawning. She slowly sat up and looked at Jack.

"I'm going to bed," she told him.

"I'll be in soon," Jack said. "I just want to watch the rest of this movie," he added.

"Okay," Martha smiled. "Night guys," she said to Kim and Kit as she walked off.

"Night," they called back.

Martha opened the bedroom door and walked in. The first thing she noticed was that the window was open. She thought that it was closed before. Martha shrugged; thinking that she must have just been mistaken.

She then moved over towards Laila's crib; that was when she got the biggest shock.

"Jack," her scream echoed throughout the house.

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