Please Don’t Take My Baby by Glass Cathy

Author:Glass, Cathy [Glass, Cathy]
Language: eng
Format: epub, pdf
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers
Published: 2013-04-24T23:00:00+00:00

Later, after Jill had gone and Courtney had had her lunchtime feed, I persuaded Jade we should go for a walk and Jade suggested the local shops, as she wanted to buy a chocolate bar and also a new mascara. When we arrived at the small parade of shops she said she didn’t have any money, so I gave her a £10 note and then waited outside the shops with Courtney in her pram while Jade went first to the newsagent and then to the chemist. As I waited it occurred to me that although I was giving Jade her allowance and I also bought nappies, formula and anything else she or Courtney needed as part of my weekly shop, Jade never seemed to have any money. Her mobile was included in her mother’s account, so I wondered what she had been spending her money on and how she’d been spending it for since returning from hospital she hadn’t been out until today. A couple of times she’d asked Adrian to buy her sweets on the way home from school and then didn’t have the money to pay him, so I’d reimbursed him. I’d remarked casually to Jade, ‘I don’t know what you’re doing with your money,’ but she hadn’t replied and I hadn’t pursued it.

However, that evening the mystery was solved and I wasn’t pleased by what I discovered. As usual Tyler was with us and had stayed for dinner; he’d fed and changed Courtney by himself and then I’d shown him how to settle her on her side in the cot. By 8.30 Jade and he were watching television in the sitting room, Adrian was in his bedroom finishing some homework and I’d just closed Paula’s bedroom door, having checked she was asleep. I went downstairs to find Tyler watching television alone.

‘Where’s Jade?’ I asked, for she hadn’t come upstairs.

‘Outside, having a fag,’ Tyler said.

‘What? I didn’t know she was smoking. Where did she get the cigarettes from? You don’t smoke, do you?’

‘Na. I don’t smoke. It’s a fool’s game,’ Tyler said, frowning. ‘But I have to get the fags for Jade or she moans like hell. Tell her to stop smoking, will you, Cath? I’ve tried but she doesn’t listen to me. It’s bad for her and if the social worker finds her smoking around the baby she’ll have a fit.’

‘Jade certainly won’t be smoking anywhere near the baby while she’s with me,’ I said forcefully. ‘And I’m not having her smoking outside either. I suppose she’s been popping outside for a fag whenever I’ve gone out. I’ll speak to her. You’re very sensible, Tyler. She should listen to you.’

Tyler beamed as though it was the first time he’d ever received a compliment and even looked a little embarrassed, but credit where credit’s due – he was sensible.

I didn’t wait for Jade to finish her fag and come in. I went through the kitchen and out of the back door, where I found her standing on the patio in the dark and cold, puffing on the last of a cigarette while talking on her mobile.

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