Read Online Homecoming by Catrin Collier - Free Book Online

‘Don’t bother to come down, I’ll see myself out.’
    John switched off the television as the evening news ended. ‘Would you like cocoa, love?’
    â€˜No, thank you.’ Katie patted her swollen stomach. ‘I’ll be glad when this one’s born. He’s not leaving much room, even for a cup of cocoa.’
    â€˜Is he kicking?’
    â€˜All the time.’
    â€˜If you are in pain …’
    â€˜I am not in pain and I promise you, he won’t be born tonight.’ She set the bootie she’d been knitting aside. ‘I am quite happy on my own, John, you don’t have to stay in every evening with me.’
    â€˜I know.’
    â€˜Then why don’t you go down the pub occasionally? Before we married you used to meet Roy Williams in the White Rose a couple of nights a week. He must think I’m locking you up.’
    â€˜He doesn’t think anything of the kind because, like me, he’s discovered the pleasures of staying home at night.’ He rested his hand lightly on her smock. ‘Don’t tell me that didn’t hurt.’ He gave her an uneasy look as he felt the baby move inside her.
    â€˜It didn’t, honestly. It’s a peculiar feeling, I can’t explain it other than to say it’s good to know he’s well enough to move about.’
    â€˜You look tired. If you don’t want any cocoa, at least let me help you to bed.’
    â€˜Please, John, don’t wrap me in cotton wool.’
    â€˜We’ll have a late night tomorrow,’ he reminded. ‘I can’t see you leaving Jack and Helen’s much before midnight.’
    â€˜As usual, you’re right, and I want to get up early to buy flowers for Helen and something for Jack. Can you think of anything?’ She struggled to her feet.
    â€˜Let me get the flowers and I’ll buy some beer for Jack. Seeing as it’s a party I could have a crate or two delivered to their house.’
    â€˜You can buy the beer but I want to choose the flowers myself.’
    â€˜Stubborn creature.’
    â€˜Do you think Jack still drinks beer?’ She opened the door.
    â€˜Judging by the weight he’s put on, I’d say almost definitely.’ He walked slowly up the stairs behind her, smiling when she opened the door of the first bedroom she came to, instead of walking on to the master bedroom.
    The room was papered in a pretty primrose paper patterned with cartoons of nursery rhymes and fairytale characters. A plain white wood cot stood along the back wall, carefully screened from draughts and the direct heat of the radiator he’d recently had installed as part of a central heating system. A chest of drawers and wardrobe that matched the cot were ranged along the opposite wall and the single bed set in front of the window held a changing mat and plastic bath filled with tins of baby cream and talcum powder. Walking to the chest of drawers, Katie opened it and looked down on the hand-knitted layette she’d spent the last few months making.
    â€˜If there’s anything else I can do in here, love, you only have to ask.’
    â€˜There’s nothing. It’s perfect.’ She closed the drawer and drew the primrose cotton curtains she’d made, before sitting in the rocking chair he’d bought her the day she’d discovered she was having their child.
    â€˜Nothing you want to add to your case for the nursing home, or the baby’s?’ He looked at the two cases that stood at the foot of the bed.
    â€˜No.’
    He stood behind the chair; wrapping his arms around her, he kissed the back of her neck. ‘Then all we want is for him to put in an appearance.’
    â€˜The sooner the better,’ she agreed.
    â€˜You afraid?’
    â€˜No,’ she lied stoutly. Realising she’d spoken too quickly, she added, ‘It’s the most natural thing in the world for a woman.’
    â€˜I wish I could do