The Family Game by Catherine Steadman

Author:Catherine Steadman [Steadman, Catherine]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Published: 2022-09-29T00:00:00+00:00

24 Diamonds Don’t Come from Coal and Other Facts

Saturday 17 December

The lights in Mount Sinai Hospital make the diamond bracelet around my wrist sparkle. My present, my prize, for beating the Krampus. I was a good girl; I protected the children and saved the day. I’m a regular hero.

It’s a beautiful bracelet, I can’t deny it, twinkling on my wrist in the strip lighting of the pregnancy ward.

The Krampus, or St Nicholas, or whoever the hell, left it in my shoe. All the shoes along Fiona and Oliver’s hallway were stuffed with gifts, good or bad.

My shoes alone were coated with black coal dust; a joke, apparently. Coal for the naughty. If only they knew how naughty I have actually been in my life. Though, given Robert’s tape, perhaps they do.

In my left shoe there was a leather box. Inside was a note, and beneath that note, a gift.

As I watch other couples head in for their scans, I try not to think about last night. I try to let the anger dissolve. I would be lying if I said I am not concerned that being chased by the Krampus might have done more damage than any of us realize, that this morning’s scan – instead of showing me a heartbeat – will show me only stillness. Life can be fragile sometimes.

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