Read Online Darkest by Ashe Barker - Free Book Online Page A

bouncing up and down.
    “What the—?” The low murmur of Nathan’s voice against my ear is all I need to tell me we’re well and truly rumbled. I roll over in his arms, to look up into Rosie’s delighted little face, and Barney’s more restrained one. Both pairs of eyes are looking down at us, their expressions a more or less even mix of surprise and confusion.
    Nathan is the first to react. “What are you doing in Miss Byrne’s bedroom, young lady?” He’s got a cheek, I’ll grant him that. Nice try, though, Mr Darke.
    “I’m getting her up. It’s time for our lesson. What are you doing in Miss Byrne’s bed, Daddy?”
    “Er…”
    All three of us wait, expectantly. This should be good.
    “Er…”
    “And why are your clothes thrown on the floor? You never let me do that. You’re supposed to fold them up.”
    “Look, Rosie…”
    “Is Miss Byrne your girlfriend now, Daddy? Megan’s mummy has a boyfriend and he sleeps in her bed too.”
    “What? Who’s Megan?” He’s obviously stalling now, playing for time.
    “Megan Brame. She sits next to Sebastian at school.”
    Sebastian?
    “Can I play you my new violin tunes, Daddy? And does this mean Miss Byrne’s staying forever? And Mrs Richardson’s coming home today as well. You need to get up.”
    Despite her admonitions to us about our lazy habits Rosie is making definite efforts to squeeze in between us. At the same instant we both realise our naked state. This is going to be awkward. Nathan gathers his wits properly, at last.
    “Princess, I need a glass of water. Would you get me one, please?”
    With a nod Rosie hops off the bed and heads out onto the landing again. Nathan leaps out of bed, and I can’t help but admire his taut bum as he grabs his jeans from the floor, pulling them on, commando, just as she reappears. He throws his discarded T-shirt at me and I wriggle into it under the duvet. Sitting back on the bed alongside me, Nathan throws an arm around my shoulders, pulling me up against him. With the other arm he reaches for the glass of water in Rosie’s outstretched hand, taking a sip before placing it on the bedside table. Then he reaches for her again, lifting the little girl up to sit between us, and drops a kiss on the top of her head.
    “Would that be okay with you, Princess? If Eva stays here with us.”
    “Yes! Cool. As long as she keeps on teaching me violin. You will, won’t you, Miss Byrne? Eva?”
    “It’s Eva now, sweet stuff. And I daresay she won’t mind continuing the lessons…?” He glances the question at me and I nod. And, taking advantage of our momentary distraction, with a deceptive little wriggle Rosie’s managed to burrow under the duvet and get herself nicely tucked up with us. And so, it’s settled.
    * * * *
    The rest of the day passes in a blur of activity. The nurse arrives as planned and we get her nicely settled, just as the hospital’s patient transport service arrives to deposit Mrs Richardson with us. She is trundled into the house in a wheelchair and between me, the nurse and Nathan we transfer her to her new bed in the dining room. The room’s large and we’ve managed to drag a sofa and the portable TV from the kitchen in there, too. The plan is that we’ll all use this room until Mrs Richardson is up and about again. Both Nathan and I did wonder about a little privacy for the invalid, but she was adamant that she didn’t want to be shoved in some corner of the house on her own. And if she wants peace and quiet I expect she’ll say so.
    By unspoken agreement Nathan is chief cook, with me, Nurse Amy, and Rosie acting as bottle-washers and fetcher-carriers. Tom drops in to see if we’re okay, and he and Nathan spend half an hour huddled in Nathan’s home office sorting out farm business that’s been building up in his absence. Then between us we rustle up a very acceptable evening meal of beef stew with mashed potatoes, and a rice pudding for afters. The evening is spent peacefully