Read The Baby for Free Online Page B

Everyone else, apart from Alice, has dumped her. Like she makes everyone feel awkward.
    â€˜How is she?’ Ben whispers, peering over the Moses basket.
    â€˜The health visitor says that we should talk normally around her so that she gets used to sleeping with noise.’ Nicola screws up her nose. ‘But right now I’m just grateful that she’ll sleep. I’m willing to live in a soundproof vacuum if it means I get four clear hours.’
    Ben grins and turns back to her. ‘Dig the leggings, by the way, Nic. You aiming for a tie-dye design?’
    Nicola pulls a face and covers the stains with the quilt. ‘What’s in the bag?’
    He sits at the foot of the bed on the floor and upturns the carrier. ‘New mum treasure.’
    Indeed, tumbling from the bag are two packets of strawberry laces, gummy bears, a three-pack of Creme Eggs, a chocolate frog and a large tub of luxury-looking bath gel with an exotic label.
    Nicola smiles for the first time today. It feels stiff on her cheeks. ‘Oh my God, Ben. This is brilliant.’
    He smiles sheepishly. ‘I thought you could have a long soak in the bath, eat Creme Eggs and strawberry laces while I sit in here and watch my favourite newborn. I might get some revision done if she’ll let me.’ He pats his backpack where she can just about see the corner of a textbook.
    The thought of relaxing under warm bubbles is suddenly too much for her. And to both of their embarrassment, tears glow in her eyes. She brushes them away.
    â€˜That’s so nice. What did I do to deserve you?’
    He shrugs and lies back on the floor, his hands crossed behind his head. ‘It’s what you’re going to do afterwards that I’m more interested in.’
    Immediately she says. ‘I’m not giving her up for adoption.’ She hears her voice swell out of her control.
    Ben sits up quickly, his face pale and shocked. ‘I wouldn’t suggest that, you idiot. Never. She’s yours now.’ He nods over to the Moses basket. ‘And she belongs to you. You obviously love her. Anyway, I wouldn’t let you. She’s fast becoming myfavourite person under a metre long.’
    Tension slides out of the room as quickly as it filled it.
    â€˜What then?’ Nicola sighs, still wary, her hand squeezing the bath gel.
    Ben screws up his eyes. ‘Just my little plan to get you out of here.’
    Nicola’s knees tremble slightly. She’s not been out of the house since she got home from the hospital and the thought makes her feel physically sick.

    An hour and a half later, Nicola stands at the front door. It has been a military-style operation getting Eliza ready for her first outing. Nicola doesn’t know what the baby will need. Between them, she and Ben have bundled the drowsy baby into a padded babygrow made for outdoors. It had, along with most of her clothes, been donated by well-meaning services or friends of the family. Her mother had scowled at the packages as they’d arrived through the door. Nicola remembered feeling bewildered by how much stuff there was. She couldn’t understand how a baby needed so many things. Only as they packed a bag with nappies and bottles, a changing mat and wet wipes, did she start to understand. With a baby you have to plan for every eventuality. Even Ben seemed taken aback.
    â€˜Does she really need all this stuff?’ he asks now, his hand on the latch of the front door.
    Nicola shrugs. ‘I guess so. What if she gets hungry or cold or wet?’
    Ben grins. ‘I was only planning on going to the shops. Not the bloody Antarctic.’
    Nicola finds herself laughing, close to hysteria, stuffing her fingers into her mouth.
    â€˜Jesus,’ Ben giggles, opening the door. ‘So much for spontaneity.’
    They bump the buggy through the front door. A wheel catches on the door frame and Eliza jerks and blinks hurriedly in the daylight. Nicola squares