Read Online Foreign Affairs by Patricia Scanlan - Free Book Online

was so funny, Helen. You should have seen the face of the poor old
eejit.’ Tears of mirth were streaming down Maura’s face and Helen laughed with her.
    ‘Maura Matthews, but you are incorrigible and there’s no doubt about it.’
    ‘I was lucky I didn’t have her there and then. I was only in labour an hour and a half. That’s the best ever,’ her sister declared proudly.
    ‘I hope it’s the last time ever,’ Helen said firmly. ‘That safe period is a dead loss at your age.’
    ‘I suppose you’re right.’ Maura yawned. Dusk had fallen and the rhythmic beam from the lighthouse illuminated the small bedroom. A log in the fireplace collapsed into a heap of
ash scattering sparks up the chimney and the coals glowed deep orange. A whimper from the Moses basket caused two pairs of eyes to turn in that direction. ‘Aren’t you going to have a
look at her?’ Maura urged softly.
    Helen gave a deep sigh, she had been delaying this moment for as long as she could. Slowly she walked over to the old well-worn but spotless basket. Peeping in she saw a pair of tiny hands
waving impatiently. Gently she leaned in and picked up the tiny bundle. The old familiar ache ripped through her. She held the child close and felt it nuzzle at her face. ‘She’s
beautiful, Maura, she’s so tiny.’
    ‘She’s small all right, she was only five pounds. She’s going to be petite, like Mam. I know you’re Louise’s godmother, and say no if you want, but I’d really
love if you’d be godmother to this one too.’
    Helen stared down at the tiny little being in her arms, her heart bursting with love for her already.
    ‘I’d love to, Maura, what are you going to call her?’ Maura smiled contentedly.
    ‘We’re going to call her Paula.’

Chapter Six
    Paula Matthews was so excited she had knots in her stomach. Anxiously she peered out of the sitting-room window into the gloom. Her eyes scanned the darkening sky where the
first stars were beginning to twinkle. No sign of anything yet. She knew that soon Santa would be leaving the North Pole and he had to cross Greenland and Iceland before getting to Scotland,
England and then Ireland. Her daddy had told her that. Paula studied the skies carefully. Santa’s fairies were still about, checking that there were no little children being bold.
    ‘Hello my darling, what are you doing?’ Auntie Helen lifted her out of the window-seat and sat down on it herself and gave Paula a great big cuddle. She had arrived from Dublin laden
down with parcels. Of course she oohed and aahed when she saw Paula and exclaimed how big she’d got and how golden her curls were. She told a proud Maura that Paula was a beautiful child. It
just confirmed everything that Paula knew about herself. She was perfectly happy to spend the rest of the afternoon admiring her golden curls and telling herself how beautiful she was.
    Paula loved her Auntie Helen. She loved the scent of perfume that always seemed to waft from her. She loved the softness of the clothes she wore. She loved the jangly charm bracelet and the
glittering earrings that adorned her aunt’s wrist and ears. Most of all Paula loved the way her aunt always made a huge fuss of her. If there was one thing that Paula enjoyed it was being the
centre of attention.
    She was the pet of the family, her older brothers and sisters took good care of her and always let her win at games. She had five brothers and sisters. The twins, Thomas and Louise, were the
eldest. They were eleven. Then there was Rebecca, who was nine and a bit bossy, Joseph, who was eight, and John, who was seven. Paula had been five on her last birthday and had started school that
September. She felt very grown-up setting off to school each day with John. John was her best friend. They had the greatest adventures together. Searching for buried treasure on the beach. Picking
periwinkles on the rocks. Catching crabs and chasing each other with the claws. John was as excited as