The Secret of the Brighton House by Hayward Cathy

Author:Hayward, Cathy [Hayward, Cathy]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Lake Union Publishing
Published: 2024-11-01T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter 13

JOANNE

SEPTEMBER 2021

Alex went to bed as soon as they got home to grab a few more hours’ sleep before his shift. Joanne walked around the little box room that would be the nursery. They had a new mattress for the cot now and Mam had knitted little zoo animals and attached them to an old mobile. Alex had hung it above the cot. She stroked the elephant and pushed the mobile around so the animals seemed to be racing around the room, the lion desperately trying to overtake the tiger who was running after the giraffe who galloped towards the elephant. One day there would be a baby in here, lying underneath watching this race. She smiled and stroked her bump. It was growing by the day. Stay in there , she murmured.

On the shelf was her baby book, next to the one they’d started writing for their own baby. She took it down again and looked through the pages, staring for a long time at the picture of Grace holding her on her sofa. Grace’s expression was completely blank. Maybe she had been depressed? How could you tell? She slipped the book back on its shelf.

Joanne looked in on Alex, who was lying on his back, snoring. She smiled and slipped downstairs, put the kettle on and tapped out the number for the Brighton Records Office. In a bored-sounding voice, the lady on the phone reiterated what the website had said. The records were only accessible in person and a request would have to be made in advance. Without thinking, Joanne arranged to visit the following week – the first appointment they had. She checked the calendar in the kitchen. Alex was working then. She knew he wouldn’t be able to take time off again so soon, whereas the shop where she worked was much more flexible. She had some orders to make for the online store, but she could do that in the next few days. Even if the records office wouldn’t let her see Grace’s hospital record, at least she’d be near it. And she’d go up to the Egremont Hospital, to see where Grace had spent her final months. Susie and Aunt Gerry would help her, she knew.

Joanne put down the phone, poured herself a mug of tea, and immediately dialled Susie.

Her bright voice flooded through the phone. ‘Joanne?’

Joanne smiled.

‘Joanne? How are you? Alex told me about you being hospitalised. Gerry and I have been so worried.’

Warmth spread through her chest. They were her family, they were worried about her. ‘I’m OK. They said the baby’s fine, it was just changes to my cervix, apparently. Nothing to worry about, but it was really scary.’

‘I’m sure it was. We’re just glad you’re all right and the baby’s OK.’

‘Thanks, Susie. But I was really sorry we didn’t get the chance to meet again.’

‘Me too. We’d love to see you. Perhaps we can FaceTime, the four of us. You, me and Gerry and Emily. Just until we have the chance to meet up.

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