The Watch

The Watch Ellen had always wanted a child of her own so she could pass the family heirloom down – but life had other plans

- SUZI BARTON

THE nurse on the end of the telephone introduced herself and Ellen felt sick with apprehension as she listened while it was explained to her that her daughter had been brought into the hospital by ambulance.

“Her husband, Simon, is with her and he asked us to give you a call.”

She could hardly get her words out, but she had to ask, “How is she?”

“We’re trying to make her as comfortable as possible, but I’d suggest you get here as soon as you can.”

Ellen felt the colour drain from her face and her arms tingled as the hairs on them stood on end.

“I’m on my way”.

She quickly replaced the receiver and dialled her husband. He was at work but assured her he’d be there within the hour, and she knew that he would. His bond with Cara was, as ever, the most important thing in his life.

Ellen grabbed her purse and the car keys and before she knew it she was on her way to the hospital. She felt the chill of the early morning air within the car and wiped at the windscreen with the back of her hand to clear the condensation. She was in a rush. Her daughter needed her and that was what was important. Her daughter!

Cara wasn’t really her daughter, but she was the closest thing to one she’d ever had.

ELLEN had been unable to have children of her own, and goodness knows she’d tried. Her pregnancies had become so regular that the heart- breaking occurrences now seemed blurred into one prolonged bad memory. The first child had died in the womb at only 15 weeks, and she’d felt the loss enormously, grieving profoundly, and bitterly asking the questions no one could ever answer.