A Baby's Cry
Cathy Glass
Language: English
Pages: 320
ISBN: 0007442637
Format: PDF / Kindle (mobi) / ePub
What could cause a mother to believe that giving away her newborn baby is her only option? Cathy Glass is about to find out. From author of Sunday Times and New York Times bestseller Damaged comes a harrowing and moving memoir about tiny Harrison, left in Cathy’s care, and the potentially fatal family secret of his beginnings.
When Cathy is first asked to foster one-day old Harrison her only concern is if she will remember how to look after a baby. But upon collecting Harrison from the hospital, Cathy realises she has more to worry than she thought when she discovers that his background is shrouded in secrecy.
She isn’t told why Harrison is in foster care and his social worker says only a few are aware of his very existence, and if his whereabouts became known his life, and that of his parents, could be in danger. Cathy tries to put her worries aside as she looks after Harrison, a beautiful baby, who is alert and engaging. Cathy and her children quickly bond with Harrison although they know that, inevitably, he will eventually be adopted.
But when a woman Cathy doesn’t know starts appearing in the street outside her house acting suspiciously, Cathy fears for her own family’s safety and demands some answers from Harrison’s social worker. The social worker tells Cathy a little but what she says is very disturbing . How is this woman connected to Harrison and can she answer the questions that will affect Harrison’s whole life?
the phone rang, which startled Harrison and he began to cry again. ‘I’ll answer it,’ Adrian offered, seizing the opportunity. I didn’t normally allow the children to answer the phone in case it was a nuisance call or a stranger but on this occasion I gratefully agreed. ‘It’s Nana,’ Adrian called from the sitting room as I rocked the pram in the hall. ‘She wants to know if you’re coping all right.’ I thought she could probably hear the answer in Harrison’s cries. ‘Tell Nana I’ll phone her back
was to the harmonious sounds of Harrison gurgling contentedly in his cot and Paula and Adrian playing in their bedrooms. All three children kept themselves amused while I showered and dressed. Sundays in our house, as in many households, are more leisurely than weekdays, so we didn’t have breakfast until nearly ten o’clock, with Adrian and Paula still in their nightwear. After breakfast the children washed and dressed while I fed and changed Harrison, and by 12.30 p.m. we were all ready for my
felt far more insecure and frightened had she just arrived the following morning without a preliminary visit and therefore completely unfamiliar with our house. I opened the French windows and called to Adrian: ‘Ellie and Ava are going now.’ He looked up from the sandpit, where he was filling a dumper truck with sand, and gave a little wave. ‘Bye,’ he called. ‘Goodbye, Adrian,’ Ava called brightly. ‘See you tomorrow.’ Ellie didn’t say anything but Harrison, still in my arms, gurgled happily.
social worker involved with the family, which was a lot better, as they already knew the family well. At the end of the corridor we turned right into the Blue Room. There were six contact rooms in the centre, named after colours; each was furnished like a sitting room with carpet, curtains, sofa, table and chairs, highchair, cot and plenty of games and puzzles for the children. Rihanna was sitting on the sofa but stood as soon as she saw Harrison. Her face lit up. ‘Hello, Cathy. Hello,
she said, her brow furrowing. ‘I can see why she’s upset.’ I nodded. ‘I was wondering if Paula could spend a few minutes in the quiet room with Mrs Wilson until she feels better? I’ll be home again in an hour, so if Paula’s still upset then I could come and collect her and take her home.’ ‘Of course. I’ll explain to Mrs Wilson.’ She held out her hand to Paula and said: ‘Would you like Mrs Wilson to read you a story?’ Paula nodded, dropped my hand and took hold of her teacher’s. ‘Bye, Harry,’