Page 92 - My Home on the Earth

still had a fear of walking on gravel. Emily knew what her first words would be when she greeted her: ‘Walking on that stuff sends shivers down my spine.’
Inside the house, Freddie was grizzling and reached out to be lifted for a cuddle. Alice wandered around the house with him in her arms while Emily made two cups of coffee. It wasn’t long before he fell asleep. Alice laid him in his rocker and covered him with a blanket.
‘Peace, at last,’ smiled Emily. ‘Thanks, Mum. Did the girls go back to school grinning?’
‘Hardly...’ she began and stopped herself from mentioning the boy thing. ‘Even I remember a feeling of dread on my first day back at school. It usually disappears by lunchtime. How is Elise getting on with Freddie?’
Emily pursed her lips. ‘Not too badly. Somehow, I don’t think she’s cut out to be mumsy, if you know what I mean. Oh, she plays with him and feeds him but from a distance.’
‘Wait until he’s running around. She’ll feel differently then,’ reassured Alice, admiring her daughter.
‘I realise he’ll never replace Robin and I don’t want her to think it’s why we had a baby. But there are days when I wonder if she’s here or somewhere else. Does that sound silly?’
‘Not at all. She’s probably thinking what life would have been like if he were here. I know I do. I’m sure Freddie will be a distraction one day, especially when he starts to talk. You’re not worried about her, are you?’ said Alice.
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