Read Online Freeing Grace by Charity Norman - Free Book Online Page A

that, but experience is the make or break. If kids grow up in, say, Priory Park Farm—what a bizarre name for a sixties housing estate—their experiences may be pretty shattering. Some of them—not all—go off the rails. But they can change, with the right input. Is locking them up the right input?’
    Hilda fluttered a pink-nailed hand. ‘My point is that it doesn’t matter what you—or poor David—do for them. You’re wasting your energy. It’s nature, not nurture.’
    ‘Research doesn’t really support you though, does it, Hilda?’ Elizabeth was smiling bemusedly. ‘Children who’ve been adopted—’
    ‘Ah, adoption !’ Hilda rested her chin on clasped hands. This was clearly her pet subject. ‘I’ve seen it time and again. A young person from a good family, a good family, comes before us. He’s got into drugs, stolen from his parents and mugged people. The family sit at the back weeping, the lawyers wave their arms around, and then it’ll turn out he was adopted.’
    At this, Leila slammed down her spoon.
    Elizabeth glanced sharply at her. ‘Children are adopted for all sorts of reasons, I believe,’ she said hastily. ‘No need to assume their birth family’s bad in any way. Perhaps this isn’t the time, though. Tell me, what brings you people to Birmingham? Have you just come up to visit David and Leila, or . . . ?’
    Hilda seemed delighted to be asked this question. ‘No, no. We’re on our way down from the Lake District, actually. Staying in a motel tonight. Michael—that’s our younger son—has a holiday cottage on Windermere.’
    ‘You have other children?’
    ‘For my sins! Michael and Monica. They spoil us rotten, can’t do enough for us. We’ve just spent a week with Michael and his bride, Alicia.’
    ‘How lovely!’
    ‘Mm. They were married this summer. Stunning girl. And . . .’ She glanced coyly at her husband. ‘I think I could make the announcement now, Christopher? I’ve kept it secret all evening.’
    Christopher shrugged with bad grace. His cheeks were a lace of red veins, his eyes heavy and bloodshot. He didn’t look at all dapper any more.
    ‘ Well . We’re so thrilled.’ Hilda took a deep, blissful breath. ‘Alicia is pregnant. Already! And it’s twins!’
    Angus and Elizabeth made enthusiastic noises. Leila knew she ought to rejoice for Michael, but she felt her insides twist into jealous little knots. She couldn’t help it.
    ‘Fantastic!’ she said, placing a hopeful hand on her own stomach.
    Angus cleared his throat. ‘Will they be your first grandchildren?’
    ‘Oh, no. Monica has two beautiful little ones. Freya and Charles. My goodness, I’m a proud grandmother.’
    ‘She dotes on them,’ wheezed Christopher, and showed his teeth with malicious satisfaction. He drained his glass, lowering it unsteadily onto the table. ‘Spoils them like nobody’s business. And you people—’ he nodded with exaggerated courtesy in Leila’s direction—‘had better get on with it.’
    Before he had finished the sentence Leila was on her feet, her chair smashing to the floor behind her. ‘You know perfectly well,’ she hissed, ‘that we have been trying to get on with it for ten years!’
    Mercifully, the front door slammed. The next moment David was in the room, rubbing his hands.
    ‘Freezing out there.’ He grinned at Leila, then focused upon her more intently, his good humour faltering a little. He stepped closer, eyes darting suspiciously between his wife and his parents. ‘What’s going on?’
    Elizabeth spoke first. ‘I wholeheartedly recommend the fruit salad, David. And charge your glass, because your parents have some happy news for you.’
    In the kitchen, as she savagely jammed the plug into its hole, Leila’s teeth fairly chattered with rage. ‘The old bastard .’
    ‘Shhh,’ giggled Elizabeth, making an anguished face. ‘Thin walls.’
    Leila scowled, but she dropped her voice to a furious whisper.
    ‘That wasn’t tactless, it