Madeleine by Kate McCann Read Free Book Online Page A

man came to the door with a Chinese takeaway we’d ordered. Amid the pandemonium, Madeleine appeared, pushing her Early Learning Centre medical trolley, placed her toy stethoscope on Uncle Pat’s chest and said, ‘Boom, boom!’ Talk about surreal.
    Gerry was able to get hold of some of his on-call colleagues and explain the situation, so in spite of a slight delay with the ambulance, Uncle Pat was rushed straight through when he got to the hospital and the problem artery was unblocked. Thankfully, he was soon on the road to recovery. If you’re going to have a heart attack, perhaps a cardiologist’s house is not a bad place to have it.
    On the afternoon of 1 February 2005, Sean and Amelie made their appearance in the world. I was lucky enough to be able to have a ‘normal’ delivery. Sean led the way with his head and his sister followed, preferring to flash her bottom first to all and sundry. We were totally taken aback to discover we had a boy, having fully expected two girls. How rubbish were we? Needless to say, neither of us have any plans to become obstetric ultrasonographers. Once again, being caught out made the birth a lovely surprise, and Gerry’s delight at having a son was clear from the big, cheesy grin he could do nothing to disguise. For my part, I was a little shocked initially by this boy of mine lying on my tummy. He wasn’t the prettiest, God bless him: he was squashed from the birth and his head was lopsided. But I loved him regardless and I’m glad to say he’s a really handsome chap these days, just gorgeous. Amelie was beautiful from the start – petite with a little rosebud mouth. Suddenly we were a family of five. How lucky we felt.
    A few hours later, Gerry brought Madeleine in to meet her little brother and sister. Just twenty months old herself at the time, in she came in her cute lilac pyjamas and puppy-dog slippers. When she saw Sean and Amelie her eyes lit up, her mouth opened wide in astonishment and wonder and she lifted her arms in the air, her fingers splayed like little starfish. My heart was ready to explode at her excitement. After inspecting her two new prospective playmates, she joined me on my bed and together we were wheeled off to the postnatal ward. It was such a special moment, one of my fondest memories of Madeleine, and I cannot think of it now without breaking down.
    Happily, Sean and Amelie were very easy babies, as babies go. They fed and slept, fed and slept. Madeleine adapted to the changes incredibly well, especially considering how young she still was herself. Obviously ours was a very busy household, but it was full of love and laughter. On weekdays my friend Amanda would come in for a few hours every day, which freed me up to get some of the household chores done and to collect Madeleine from nursery. It mattered to me that I was the one to pick her up. I wanted her to feel as important and as loved as she always had.
    I breastfed Sean and Amelie, as I had Madeleine, so there were spells when I wished I had a few extra arms, usually mid to late afternoon when I was alone with the children and Madeleine would be getting tired. I would have to feed the twins one at a time when I was on my own, which meant that as I was feeding the first, the other one would not only be getting hungry and grumpy but would also be vulnerable to attack from a big sister needing attention. Sometimes I’d be feeding one baby and pushing the other’s rocker with my foot while a small girl clambered across my shoulders.
    Overnight feeds were easier as then I could feed both babies at once, which cut the time it took by half. But I only managed that because my husband was an absolute star. He would get up with me, help latch the second twin on to my breast and then make me tea and toast while unloading the dishwasher. It was great teamwork, although thinking about it now, I wonder whether I had the better deal.
    Only six weeks after Sean and Amelie were born, Gerry’s dad passed