Read Online When the Bough Breaks by Connie Monk - Free Book Online Page A

what they thought of as his ‘tidy’ trousers from their hanger. He would do some of Kathie’s jobs early, helping the time to pass before he could make his call. So he collected the eggs, fed the chickens and replaced their bowl of water. Bertram would have to wait until later, a pigsty was no place when he was dressed like this.
    Before he had married he had looked after himself quite efficiently, so it was no hardship to cook his own breakfast. At last it was ten to eight and time to drive the van to the village.
    The night staff had gone off duty and the nurse who spoke to him told him, ‘Mrs Hawthorne has come round from the operation and is sleeping.’ And the baby? Apparently that was another ward, so he had to wait until his call was transferred. The answer was much the same: ‘The baby is doing well.’
    He drove home feeling strangely empty. All he knew was that Kathie and the baby were alive. He felt shut out from them and helpless. Once back at the cottage he took off his good trousers and clean shirt and put on yesterday’s work things. The greatest therapy was hard work, something Westways could always supply.
    By the time he was allowed to see Kathie on Wednesday from three o’clock until four she was truly back in the land of the living and she had been moved to the same ward as her baby. The curtains were pulled around her bed but the nurse ushered him in then left them alone. Propped against pillows Kathie was sitting in bed with the tiny baby at her breast. His eyes stung with tears.
    â€˜Den, just look at her.’
    He nodded, frightened to trust his voice then, surprising himself and thankful for the curtains, he found himself on his knees at her bedside.
    â€˜Kathie, oh Kathie, thank God. You look fine; you look like yourself. Been so worried.’
    â€˜Worse for you than for me, I expect, Den. Most of the time I didn’t know anything about it. I wanted to have her properly, I mean like nature intended. But she’s so beautiful. You’d never think she came early would you?’
    â€˜But what about
you
?
Is your back better? What have they told you, Kathie? They say nothing on the phone, only that the operation was satisfactory.’
    â€˜Mr Freeman, the surgeon, has been round to see me and he said it went very well and the tumour hadn’t spread any further. Apparently they have to send it to be analysed or something. They want to keep me here for three weeks.’ He knew from her expression that it was the cost that worried her. ‘But that’s ridiculous. They can’t make me stay.’
    â€˜If
they
can’t, then I can.’ His voice was uncharacteristically masterful.
    â€˜I promise I’d rest at home. If you said I couldn’t work outside, then I’d stay indoors in the warm.’
    â€˜You’ll certainly do that, but not until they are happy for you to leave the hospital. Kathie, we’ve got a few pounds put by.’
    She didn’t look convinced. Every pound they had managed to save had been cause for pride and now they were expected to throw it all away when she had a perfectly good bed at home. Anyway she wanted to look after the baby herself.
    â€˜It’s silly for me to lie here doing nothing while you have to do your own cooking and washing.’
    â€˜Remember, woman,’ he said with an almost boyish grin, ‘before you swept into my life I catered for myself most efficiently and so I am again. And when you come home don’t think you’re going to rule the roost, you’ll do as I tell you. And that means rest.’
    Kathie wriggled deeper into her pillows. With her baby nuzzling at her nipple and with Den looking at her in a way she hadn’t seen for years, she felt she would burst with happiness. She wouldn’t let herself consider the chance that the biopsy result would be anything but perfect.
    Dennis couldn’t let his thoughts go beyond the point when