Read Online Three-And-A-Half Heartbeats by Amanda Prowse - Free Book Online

their daughter, they necked their coffees fast. It was only once they’d bought second cups and had shared a rather large Belgian bun that they relaxed into conversation.
    ‘How are you feeling, babe?’ Tom looked at his wife, searching for clues.
    ‘Bit rough actually. I said to Jayney earlier, I’d be ill if I had the time.’
    ‘I checked your schedule and I think you have a gap next Thursday between 2.30 and 3.15, could you be ill then?’ he said, tongue in cheek.
    ‘Ha ha.’ Grace ignored him and blew her nose. ‘I feel a bit fluey.’
    ‘Do you want me to go grab you some Paracetamol?’ Tom offered. ‘I mean, we’re in a bloody hospital, there’s got to be some lying around somewhere!’
    She shook her head. ‘No. Thanks though, love. I’ll grab something at home.’
    ‘I hate that she’s up there without us. It feels crap that we’re putting her through this. Maybe we should have waited,’ Tom said.
    ‘It’s a bit bloody late now!’ Grace smiled and placed her hand over the back of Tom’s, which was toying with the little sachet of sugar that had come with his coffee. ‘Just think of what this’ll mean for her, think of all those horrible days with her unable to swallow or eat. Her snoring, her earaches, the whole lot gone!’ She snapped her fingers. ‘Just like that!’
    ‘I know. She just looked so tiny on that trolley.’ He swallowed his tears.
    ‘When she has a baby, you are going to be banned from the building. Can you imagine if you’re this bad when she’s just having her tonsils out?’ Grace laughed.
    ‘I can’t even think of her having a baby!’ He shook his head. ‘Tell you what, the bloke she marries better look after her, or I’ll kill him!’
    Grace giggled and sipped her coffee. ‘ If she chooses to marry, I’m sure he’ll be a good guy; we have to trust her to pick well. Plus they don’t let just any old bloke be captain of the rowing team!’
    ‘Good point.’ He raised his mug and clinked it against hers.
    Grace looked at the clock on the wall. ‘Right, that’s it, half an hour. Let’s go back up!’
    The two raced to the lift, partly in haste and partly in jest. Fuelled by coffee and sugar, they jostled each other, both keen to be the first to press the button and both a little giddy with relief that the whole affair was nearly over.
    They had barely had time to sit outside the recovery area when the rubber doors opened and a porter wheeled Chloe out towards them. A nurse walked alongside in blue scrubs, her long hair wound into a tight bun and a face mask dangling onto her chest. ‘It all went perfectly. Mr Portland is very pleased.’
    ‘Oh that’s great!’ Tom exhaled a huge sigh.
    Grace ran her hand over Chloe’s hair; it was slightly sticky with sweat. Chloe opened her eyes and smiled weakly at her mum.
    ‘Hello, little girl,’ Grace whispered as they wheeled her past and into the ward.
    Chloe was understandably groggy. She placed her hand on her ear and cried a little.
    ‘They said she might have a bit of an earache after. They’ve given her some painkillers, so that should take the edge off.’
    ‘Poor little thing,’ Tom cooed.
    Once Chloe was settled into the ward, Grace hopped onto the bed and held her daughter in her arms. ‘When we get home, Chlo, we can read The Gruffalo again and Daddy has got you some ice cream when you feel up to it.’
    Chloe nodded against her mum, turned on her side and slept for over an hour.
    Grace smiled at her husband. ‘I know this is a terrible thing to say, but I quite like it when she’s a bit under the weather and wants to be held like this.’ She kissed Chloe’s hair.
    ‘I know what you mean.’ He smiled back. ‘Apparently she’ll be right as rain tomorrow, just a bit of a sore throat, but apart from that…’ He let it trail.
    ‘And I’ll be back at work, worse luck. I feel crappy.’ Grace yawned.
    ‘You could take another day,’ Tom suggested.
    ‘I can’t.’ Grace shook her head.