I Think I'll Just Curl Up and Die by Rosie Rushton Read Free Book Online Page B

it!’
    â€˜LAURA!’ Ruth exploded. ‘That’s a terrible, terrible thing to say. I want – we want – this baby.’ Yes, she thought in surprise. Yes, I really do. She took a deep breath. ‘I admit, it took me by surprise at first, but now I’m delighted. And when you get used to the idea, you’ll be thrilled too. Just think, a little brother or sister.’
    â€˜But what do you want a baby for?’ asked Laura. ‘You’ve got me.’
    Her mother pulled Laura to her. ‘Look, love, it won’t make a single difference to the way I feel about you, ifthat’s what’s worrying you. I love you to bits and I always will – no baby in the world is going to alter that.’
    â€˜God, what will my friends say?’ cried Laura, wriggling free of her mother’s embrace. ‘What will your friends say – Chelsea’s mum will be disgusted.’
    â€˜Actually, she’s being very supportive,’ began Ruth.
    â€˜Oh I see – so you told her before you own daughter! See how much you care.’
    â€˜I only told her because she was here and I was sick and she guessed,’ sighed Ruth. ‘No one else knows – except Melvyn, of course.’
    â€˜So you haven’t told Dad?’ demanded Laura.
    â€˜No, no of course not. Not yet,’ said Ruth.
    â€˜Well, I should think he will be devastated,’ shouted Laura. ‘His own wife – with that jerk –’
    â€˜Laura, listen. I am not Dad’s wife any more as you know full well. Dad and I are not a couple; we’re divorced. What he does is no business of mine, and what I choose to do is no concern of his. And you are going to have to learn to accept that fact.’
    Laura burst into hot tears. ‘You’re ruining my entire life, you know that, don’t you? First of all you dump Dad, then you go around with someone half your age … ’
    Ruth sighed. ‘Seven years younger than me, actually – and I didn’t dump Dad, as you put it. He met someone else.’
    Her daughter was in no mood to listen to reason.
    â€˜ … and then you get pregnant. You’ll be puking allover the place and then you’ll get all fat and gross and everyone will know what you’ve been doing. I HATE YOU!’
    She stormed into the bathroom and slammed the door. A crack appeared on the landing ceiling. Ruth sat on the bed wondering whether entering the minefield called motherhood for a second time was such a good idea after all.
    â€˜We’ll talk about it some more tomorrow – Melvyn’s coming for lunch,’ ventured Ruth through the keyhole.
    â€˜Then I shall be out,’ shouted Laura. ‘I have no intention of being in the same room as that pervert.’
    Ten minutes later, the telephone rang. It was Chelsea.
    â€˜Hi, Mrs Turnbull, can I have a word with Laura, please?’
    Ruth called up the stairs. ‘Laura, it’s Chelsea for you.’
    A red-eyed Laura appeared at the top of the stairs.
    â€˜I can’t talk to anyone,’ she sniffed. ‘I’m in shock.’
    â€˜Um, Chelsea, Laura’s a little bit tied up right now … yes, tonight? All right, seven-thirty. Who? Oh, all right. Yes, yes I’ll tell her. Bye, Chelsea.’
    â€˜Mrs Gee will pick you up at seven-thirty,’ said Laura’s mum. ‘So you had better smarten up pretty sharpish and put a smile on your face.’
    â€˜I don’t think,’ said Laura dramatically, ‘that I shall ever smile again.’
    Laura turned to go into her bedroom.
    â€˜Oh and Chelsea said … ’
    The door slammed. Oh forget it, thought Ruth. What’s the point of my making an effort when she’s in this frame of mind? I don’t suppose it matters whether she knows Jon someone or other is going or not.
    At seven-twenty, Mrs Gee rang the Turnbulls’ front door bell.
    â€˜Sorry we’re early, but is