Rhona Goskirk (Zoe Henry) has been driven to take drastic action on Emmerdale to keep her biological daughter Ivy with her – by kidnapping the baby and hiding out in a holiday cottage.
When Ivy’s father, Rhona’s ex husband Gus (Alan McKenna), left the baby with Rhona, Marlon (Mark Charnock) and the family over Christmas it was only supposed to be a temporary arrangement while he sorted himself out so he could look after Ivy properly following the death of his wife.
For Rhona, the bond she already felt with the baby who was born from one of the embryos that she and Gus had had frozen during their marriage grew stronger as she cared for the child.
When Gus returned and said he was now ready to have Ivy back permanently, Rhona couldn’t cope with the idea of losing her.
She packed up Ivy’s things and left the village, renting a holiday cottage and hiding out there. The only person who knew where she was was her close friend Vanessa Woodfield (Michelle Hardwick), who was shocked when she discovered what Rhona had done.
In upcoming episodes Rhona asks Vanessa to help her and Ivy start a new life in Canada, where Vanessa has recently been living. Despite Vanessa’s huge misgivings, Rhona is apparently fixed on this plan and won’t listen to reason.
Back in the village, Mary (Louise Jameson) and Marlon are desperately trying to keep a frantically worried Gus from calling the police.
Then Marlon gets a phone call from Vanessa, and discovers where Rhona is staying. Gus agrees to let Marlon go and talk to Rhona to try to persuade her to see sense and come back before they involve the police.
