Read Online Cut by Cathy Glass - Free Book Online Page B

with a start. ‘I think she just wants to cuddle him like she does during the day.’ But even as I said it I knew that picking up Adrian while sleepwalking could easily have resulted in her harming him, even though Dawn wouldn’t have intended it.
    ‘We’ll raise the subject with her mother and social worker when we see them on Tuesday,’ John said. ‘Perhaps they can throw some light on it. It’s very disturbing.’
* * *
    Dawn came into our room again half an hour later. We were still awake, and we steered her straight back to bed, where she remained until morning. John and I spent the rest of the night tossing and turning, and each time I woke my eyes immediately went to the bedroom door to check it was still closed. Adrian didn’t wake for a feed again until 5.00 a.m. I fed and changed him and he went straight back to sleep. As it was Saturday, John and I were able to doze until 7.30, when Adrian woke again, and we brought him into our bed.
    We had breakfast together just before nine o’clock; Dawn was still asleep. John ate his breakfast with Adrian on his lap, with Adrian making repeated little attempts to grab John’s spoon on the way to his mouth, and giggling when he missed it.
    ‘I will say something to Dawn,’ I said to John as we ate. We had been talking about Dawn and her sleepwalking on and off since waking. ‘But I won’t actually tell her the details of what she did. It could make her even more anxious. And I’ll try to find out what’s worrying her.’ John and I had agreed that we thought Dawn’s sleepwalking, together with her comment ‘No, it wasn’t me’, must be caused by worrying.
    When Dawn finally came downstairs at just gone ten o’clock she was washed, dressed and very relaxed. John was playing with Adrian in the lounge, having some quality time, and a father-to-son ‘conversation’ in which Adrian answered by babbling. I made Dawn the toast she asked for and then sat at the table with my mug of coffee while she ate.
    ‘Did you sleep all right?’ I asked her after a moment.
    ‘Yes, thanks. I always do.’
    I hesitated, looked down at my coffee, and then summoned up the courage to say what I had rehearsed in my head, which I hoped was tactful and wouldn’t make her anxious. ‘Actually, love, you were quite restless last night. You got out of your bed, and I had to resettle you.’
    ‘Oh, I’m sorry. Did I wake you?’ she asked, surprised and embarrassed.
    ‘Yes, but that doesn’t matter. I am more concerned that something could be worrying you. You were talking in your sleep.’
    She looked at me anxiously. ‘Was I? What did I say?’
    ‘It sounded as though you were being blamed for something you didn’t do. You said, “No, it wasn’t me.”’ The words seemed to register with Dawn and she looked away, almost guiltily.
    ‘Is there something worrying you?’ I asked. ‘Remember what we said about sharing worries?’
    She brought her gaze back to mine. ‘No, Cathy. There isn’t, really. I don’t know what I was talking about. I did it at my mum’s and she said I was sleepwalking, but I don’t remember. I hope I haven’t been sleepwalking here.’
    I didn’t know what to say. As sure as I was that Dawn was worrying about something, although she had denied it, I was now equally sure she had no idea that she had been sleepwalking. If I told her, wouldn’t it make her even more anxious? I decided not to. ‘You were very restless,’ I said. ‘Are you sure there’s nothing bothering you? Often worries can play on our minds at night.’
    ‘No,’ she said, leaving the rest of her toast. ‘I would tell you if there was. I’m so sorry I woke you and John. I hope I don’t do it again.’
* * *
    Dawn and I had a pleasant day on Saturday. Leaving Adrian with John, I took Dawn clothes shopping and, among other things, bought her a new winter coat, which she loved and was also warmer than the leather jacket she had been wearing. In the afternoon she helped me