Cut by Cathy Glass Read Free Book Online Page B

me.’
    ‘You’re welcome.’
    We said goodbye and I left, passing a couple of very late students going in. Although I hadn’t learned any more about Dawn’s background, I had at least made contact with the school, and they now knew I wanted to help Dawn with her school work.
    I returned home, fed Adrian and while he had his nap, did the housework. Then I sat on the sofa with my lunch and soon found I was beginning to doze. The phone rang. It was John, making a quick call between meetings.
    ‘How are you all?’ he asked.
    ‘OK, apart from being tired. Dawn doesn’t remember a thing about last night and when I asked her, she said she’d slept well. I took her to school and met the Head of Year.’
    ‘Good. And how’s Adrian?’
    ‘Asleep.’
    ‘Well, when he wakes, tell him his daddy sends his love.’
    ‘I will. Are you home at the normal time tonight?’
    ‘Should be. See you later then. Love you.’
    ‘And you.’
       
    I collected Dawn as arranged at the end of school and took her shopping. We bought a new school uniform and a pair of school shoes first, then some casual clothes – joggers, a pair of jeans, a skirt, two jumpers, T-shirts and underwear. I wrote the cheques but didn’t dare add up the accumulated amount. If Dawn’s social worker didn’t produce any more clothes from Dawn’s mum or dad, I would have to add to Dawn’s wardrobe gradually. But for now Dawn had three changes of casual clothes and a complete school uniform. Dawn thanked me profusely as I bought each item and I was really touched. Adrian was in his stroller as we shopped and Dawn pushed him for most of the time. I had fed him before I had left home and he had his boiled water in the shops.
    When we arrived home, Dawn hung her new clothes in her wardrobe while I fed Adrian. I settled Adrian in his recliner in the kitchen while I made dinner. Dawn helped me prepare the vegetables and then watched television in the lounge until John came home. The three of us, watched by Adrian, ate together at the table. John asked Dawn about her day at school, as I had done, and she gave the same reply: ‘It was good, thanks.’ He also asked, as I had done, if she had any homework and received the same reply: ‘No.’
    We accepted this as the truth; having made contact with the school I assumed they would let me know if homework wasn’t done, or was handed in late.
    Dawn had a bath at 8.00 p.m. and then came downstairs to say goodnight. Half an hour later when I went up to check on her she was fast asleep – on her side and looking very peaceful. I bathed Adrian and then, following our usual routine, I fed him and John settled him in his cot while I had my bath. After so little sleep the night before, we were both grateful to be in bed at 10.30 p.m., but while neither of us said so, I think we were both feeling pretty apprehensive about what the night might have in store.
    ‘I’m sure she’ll sleep well tonight,’ I said as we drifted off to sleep. ‘She’s as exhausted as we are.’
    ‘Hmm,’ said John, ‘I hope so.’ And followed it with a snore.
       
    At 2.45 p.m., when Adrian woke for his feed, my eyes went straight to our bedroom door, and it was still shut. Likewise when the alarm went off it was still closed. I finally put the incident of the night before behind us. Clearly, I thought, Dawn had been unsettled by her first night in a strange bed and, having now got used it was now going to be fine.

Chapter Seven
Deceived
    T wo weeks passed and Dawn appeared to be settling in. I saw her off at the front door to catch the bus to school at eight o’clock each morning, and welcomed her home at 3.45 each afternoon. She had a drink and a snack when she first got in, and then spent some time playing with Adrian under my (not conspicuous) supervision, before going to her room to do her homework. Each night John, Dawn and I ate together. John and I always asked Dawn about her day at school, and if she needed any help with her