Waa-Waa-Waa…
The baby's cry jolted Natasha and Earl awake from their slumber. Natasha jumped out of bed and tended to the baby.
Earl found himself on the sofa; his laptop was wide open on the central table. He discovered that the battery was nearly dead when he checked it. He went into the bathroom to freshen up after plugging it in to charge.
Waa-Waa-Waa…
The baby continued crying for some time. Natasha struggled to make him stop crying. After much effort, she calmed him and breastfed him.
Earl came out of the bathroom and came up to her. He bowed and kissed the top of her head. Then he stroked the baby's head.
"That was a good alarm to awake us," he said cheerfully, attempting to lighten the tense atmosphere. "We are going home today. Don't keep crying." He said it to the baby, but it was mainly for Natasha.
"Did you get any updates from Declan?" she asked, her eyes welling up with tears.
