When the Bough Breaks Read Online Free PDF Page B

Kathie’s age and with their latest additions to the family only five months old, was expecting her fifth child setting the seal on the family’s commitment to their new country. If her belief about conception echoed in Kathie’s memory, she refused to listen. Of course she and Den were right for each other. Yet already that regular monthly disappointment was beginning to cast a shadow. Each time they made love she silently begged, ‘Let it happen this time. If it does, will I know? Will it be different for me?’ If only she knew a woman well enough to talk to, a woman with children. If only she could ask the things she didn’t understand. Occasionally as his passion mounted towards a climax something wonderful happened to her too but lately, even if she reached what she strived for, when it happened all she could think was, ‘This time! It’s
got
to be this time.’
    She and Den worked together as partners whether it was outside on the land, or indoors where they hung wallpaper, or he built a cupboard for their clothes while she stitched curtains. Yet as the days of each month passed she came to dread the time her period was due. In the watches of the night she even imagined there must be something wrong with her that she couldn’t conceive.
    They had been married nearly a year and a half when, for the first time, she dared to let herself hope. She was four days late, something that had never before happened. And with each passing hour hope took a firmer hold. She hurried through the essential work in the house and went out to help Dennis where she spent the rest of the morning planting out the cabbages they had brought on in the greenhouse he had built the previous summer.
    â€˜When I’ve finished these, how about if I plant out another row of lettuce? Just feel the sun, Den. I bet there’s no one luckier than us.’
    He looked at her affectionately. How pretty she looked kneeling there with the tawny lights in her recently bobbed chestnut hair shining in the sunshine. He supposed four days wasn’t very long, but there was something about her, a sort of inner glow. Never a demonstrative man, before he could stop himself he stooped down and kissed her forehead, a forehead that even so early in the season had lost its winter paleness.
    â€˜Nor yet half as lucky. Kathie, don’t let yourself get tired. I mean . . . if . . . well, you know – if this really is the beginning, you mustn’t risk upsetting things.’
    â€˜Silly,’ she laughed, grabbing his hand and rubbing it against her cheek, ‘I’m tough as old boots. If we’ve got the start of a baby, then I don’t have to worry. Having a baby won’t be a problem, as long as you’ve done your bit and given me one to work on.’
    For a second he frowned. Was she inferring that their regular disappointment might be
his
fault? Of course it wasn’t anything to do with him. Sometimes he knew he came so quickly she hadn’t even got started; other times he managed to hang on until he could feel her rising excitement at what he was doing to her. Either way, when his moment came he filled her with what must be the makings of dozens of babies. If she couldn’t do her part, that was hardly his fault. Den felt his manhood had been challenged.
    â€˜I hope you’re right. But it’s taken us all this time to get even a glimmer of hope, so don’t run any risks.’
    She felt cherished.
    They worked until about one o’clock then went indoors to eat bread, cheese and chutney, washed down with tea. In less than half an hour they were outside again. This was their regular routine; a plot of five acres with only two people to work it didn’t allow time to relax. Each of them gardened independently and yet with the comfortable knowledge that everything they did was a shared step towards their goal. As daylight started to fade he saw her put her tools in the shed