Risk-reward

The baby’s crying yanked Richard from a dream.

Beside him, Brooke appeared to be asleep. Was she pretending?

Emma’s crying intensified, but Richard held out, hoping Brooke would rise.

When she didn’t, he sneered, “You win” and shuffled off.

In the dark, he lifted Emma from her cot and sniffed. Inconclusive. But he wasn’t about to change her nappy if he didn’t need to.

After a long pause, he snaked a finger inside her sleep bag and down the back of her nappy.

So far so good … he thought, before suddenly finding himself questioning the actual point of children.

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