Someone Else's Baby by Ruby Speechley

Author:Ruby Speechley [Speechley, Ruby]
Language: eng
Format: epub
ISBN: 9781912973132
Publisher: Hera Books
Published: 2019-07-24T23:00:00+00:00

Chapter Thirty-Two

In the afternoon, Malcolm and Brenda stopped by again. Steve was there and helped Brenda hold Rose and give her a feed. I sat on the bed and took long slow breaths to control my anxiety. We’d had a cat once that’d had kittens and, as each one was sold, the mother gave long mournful meows, walking in circles, tail quivering in the air. Now I knew how she’d felt, and the twins hadn’t even left yet.

‘You look like an old hand at this, Brenda,’ Steve said, looking round at me, ‘don’t you think?’

She smiled at us watching her.

‘Yeah, a natural.’ As much as it pained me to see her holding my baby, I was grateful for that. How much worse it would be if she found it awkward, or was worried about dropping the baby, like some women did. Malcolm looked mesmerised by his wife feeding their very own daughter. He seemed so much calmer, like something had changed between them for the better. At last they were content. They had the family they’d dreamed of and my heart swelled, knowing that I’d helped them.

‘See, it’s all going to be fine,’ Steve whispered, his back to them as he leaned over the bed. He pushed my hair behind my ear and kissed my cheek. I took my hand away from my mouth. God knows how I ever thought this would be straightforward. But they were good people and Brenda was going to be a wonderful mum.

After they’d gone, Steve sat with me, holding my hands.

‘Wasn’t that bad, was it?’

‘Not really, I suppose. I just need to get my head around it.’

‘I thought you were okay with it now.’

‘I am, in theory, but it’s still going to be hard letting go.’ As soon as I was feeling like myself again, I’d try and move on with my life, see about starting college.

‘Yeah, I know. It’s weird for me too.’

‘Did you go and see Jack?’

‘Yeah, he’s doing well. Looking forward to finishing the chemo.’ He stuck his hand in his jacket pocket. ‘I forgot to give you this, it’s from Jean. She sends her love. Says she’ll wait and see you when you come home. And your dad emailed to say he’ll call.’ He passed me an envelope. I ripped it open and read a quote framed by flowers on the front of a card: Do things for people not because of who they are or what they do in return, but because of who you are. Harold S. Kushner. Inside she’d written: Dear Charlotte, I think what you’ve done is extraordinary, I know I couldn’t do it! Take good care of yourself. I’m here if you need anything. Love Jean xx

‘That’s kind of her,’ Steve said.

‘Yeah, isn’t it lovely.’ I tried not to let myself cry. ‘Has Mum said anything to you?’

‘Nah, I drop Alice off, pick her up, she talks about what they’ve done that day, asks how you are and that’s it.’

‘We knew she wouldn’t like Malcolm and Brenda.

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