Emmerdale spoilers: Rhona Goskirk is devastated by double exit of two characters which will ruin her life

There’s devastation ahead for Rhona Goskirk (Zoe Henry) in Emmerdale as she faces up to an event she tried to think would never come – the loss of baby Ivy.

Ivy is biologically Rhona’s child – she has her DNA. But legally Rhona has no claim to her because she didn’t give birth to her. Instead Ivy was conceived from an embryo that Rhona and ex-husband Gus (Alan McKenna) had frozen during their marriage.

Many years after the marriage broke up, Gus sought Rhona’s permission to use an embryo with his wife Lucy. Rhona refused, but Gus went ahead anyway.

Baby Ivy was born and Lucy died soon afterwards, leaving Gus distraught with grief.

A difficult day lies ahead for Rhona

Since Christmas Rhona, Marlon (Mark Charnock) and Mary (Louise Jameson) have been caring for Ivy after Gus left the baby with them as he couldn’t cope. The family have all bonded with the little girl, but Rhona’s bond is fiercely maternal. As far as she’s concerned, she’s Ivy’s mum.

When Gus got back in touch saying he felt ready to look after Ivy again, Rhona tried to fob him off. But inevitably, she soon has to face the fact that Gus wants to have his daughter back.

After Gus takes the baby away for a night, Rhona’s distraught and hopes that he won’t be able to cope. Unfortunately for her, he does cope and says he’s ready to look for a permanent new home for himself and Ivy

Knowing how much it means to Rhona, and how attached he is himself to the baby, Marlon asks Gus to consider a co-parenting arrangement, but Gus drops the bombshell that this might not be possible because he plans to move to France.

Feeling guilty when he sees how upset Rhona and Marlon are, Gus suggests that they have Ivy for one last day so they can have a chance to say their goodbyes. Rhona clutches baby Ivy, absolutely broken as she contemplates a future knowing her daughter is in France, growing up without her.

And that’s when she takes some impulsive and life-changing action. Packing up Ivy’s belongings and some of her own things, Rhona heads off, knowing only that she can’t let Ivy go.