Chapter 18

Dad read Tilly the next chapter of her book. He looked up when he finished. “You don’t really need me to read you this,” he said. “I know you could read it by yourself. But I’m glad you let me read to you still.” He kissed her good night. He stroked her hair.

Dad didn’t seem to want to go.

“Won’t Mom be needing you?” Tilly asked eventually.

Dad kissed her again. “Yes. Are you going to be all right?”

Tilly nodded.

“See you tomorrow, then.”

Tilly’s throat was tight. “Night night! Give Mom a hug from me.”

She listened to Dad’s feet going along the landing and down the stairs, and then the sound of the door opening and closing, and the car engine. She imagined him arriving at the hospital; all the windows would be lit up, shining out into the dark. He would go up the stairs two at a time and walk fast along the maze of corridors, and through the swinging doors to Mom’s ward, where Mom would be waiting for him.

Tilly didn’t want to imagine what would happen after that. She knew a bit about babies being born. She knew it sometimes hurt a lot. And she didn’t want to think about those too tiny babies who might not survive because they had been born too soon. This baby wasn’t supposed to be born till February.

Granny tapped on the door and called out, “Goodnight, Tilly! Sweet dreams!”

“Night night, Granny,” Tilly called back. But of course she wouldn’t have sweet dreams. How could she, when she wouldn’t be going to sleep?

She let herself doze a bit, so she would have more energy for later. She hoped Granny would go to bed early again, so she wouldn’t have too long to wait.

The phone rang.

Tilly got out of bed and opened her door a little, so she could listen to what Granny was saying, but it didn’t seem to be anything important.

She shut the door again and hopped back into bed. She snuggled down under the blanket. She still had her socks on, and a sweater under her pajamas. Dad hadn’t noticed. The window rattled as a gust of wind buffeted it, and she heard rain pattering onto the path outside. Inside, she was cozy. Warm as toast. Getting very sleepy…

The fox barked three times.