The Baby Read Online Free PDF

feels Jonty shift by her side. He seems just as shocked as them all. He swallows and she watches his Adam’s apple wobble up and down his throat.
    Ben is crouched down, his hands over his face. There’s no question that he’s sober now.
    Alice whimpers under Olivia’s arm.
    Olivia finds herself stroking the soft strands of Alice’s hair. This is unusual. Her sister wouldn’t normally let this happen.

    And then the strangest sound. A noise which hasn’t been heard in this house for the last ten years: the small yowls of a baby.
    Olivia feels a sigh rock from her lungs. It makes her wonder how long she’s been holding her breath. ‘Oh my God.’
    Her mum calls sharply from the bathroom. ‘Get me a fresh towel, Olivia.’
    Olivia rushes to the airing cupboard, her hands shakingamongst the warmth of the towels. The bathroom door is opened by the smallest crack and her mum’s hand pokes through. Her fingers scream urgency.
    Olivia shoves the towel into the hand and wilts back against Jonty, who folds his arms around her. He smells like he always does, of shower gel and body spray. It’s nice.
    The scream of a siren comes from the open front door. Blue flashing lights flicker against the walls. Olivia’s dad straightens his back. Preparing to direct the paramedics.
    The four figures on the landing move towards the walls. Space will be needed.
    Words in the hallway. Quick, brisk information is passed from one male to another. There are nods of acknowledgement and terse mouths.
    A blanket. A bag of equipment. Heavy breathing on the stairs. Walkie-talkie crackle attached to a chest.
    Alice watches with wide eyes. Sandy strains to be let out from the bedroom. Everyone ignores her. So she scratches at the wood.
    Ten more minutes of activity in the bathroom. Figures move in and out and up and down the stairs. No one notices the three teenagers and the eleven-year-old girl. Olivia’s dad comes to join them. She’s never seen him look so old.
    And then, when Olivia has almost given up, when she’s sure she can’t stand up for another minute more, the bathroom door is suddenly opened so wide that they can all see into the bright light.
    Jonty steps away, against the wall.
    First Olivia’s mum, with a grim smile. She nods at Olivia’s dad. ‘They’re OK.’
    Olivia closes her eyes for a couple of seconds.
    Then Nicola herself. Slack-jawed, glazed pink cheeks. The softness in her face seems suddenly beautiful to Olivia. She’s on a kind of stretcher with a thick blanket around her. A paramedic is helping her. And in her arms is the baby. Something Olivia can barely fathom. A curled up, scrunched up wisp of a thing which Nicola cradles as if she’s clinging to life itself.
    She smiles. She actually smiles. Sheepishly at Olivia. And Olivia smiles back.
    And it’s while she’s smiling that she catches the quick, awkward glance flicked between Nicola and Jonty.

    When they’re gone, when they’ve left through the front door and the ambulance doors are crunched closed, Olivia blinks and feels a wave of fatigue.
    â€˜I think you’d better go.’ Olivia’s dad nods to the two boys whose arms are hanging by their sides in identical awkwardness.
    Ben collects himself first. ‘Um … do you want some help clearing up?’
    Olivia’s dad pulls his fingers through his hair. The lines at the side of his mouth are deep. He shakes his head. ‘No. We’ll leave it till the morning. I think we could all do with some sleep.’
    Ben nods, and Jonty shrugs. ‘If you’re sure.’
    Olivia’s dad seems to want both boys out of the house. Hestarts to usher Alice towards her bedroom. They’re both nearly knocked over by the bounding dog as the door opens. Alice exclaims with pleasure. ‘Sandy, you’ve been such a good girl.’
    At the front door both boys linger. Ben shakes his head,