Hush Baby (136 pages, $16.50) is a work of fiction that follows the life of Ruby Dobbes from the moment of her tumultuous conception through the birth of her own daughter, to her surprising discovery of where family lives.
Excerpt
“I never saw Lena read a book.” She says, turning to him, and flipping the ends of her hair off her shoulder and into her mouth. He is at his desk, papers spread before him. Many of them marked in red ink with his comments, insight, and suggestions. She wants to study him. She wants to know what it is to live in a house with a man, to hear the comforting sounds of his movement in the next room. To know that he is there, masculine to balance feminine, strength to balance sensitivity, logic to balance intuition. His sleeves are pushed up revealing hair that shines like gold threads in the reflection of his desk lamp. “I thought you taught political science.”
“But, I love art history. It tells the story of who we are more than politics does.”
She turns back to the books, untwines her fingers and spits the wet hair out of her mouth. “Which book is your favorite?”
“I like them all,” He approaches the shelves, stands next to her, and selects a book from a shelf just out of her reach. She can feel his breath as he reaches past her. “But, this one is my favorite.” He pulls the book down and flips it open to a random page. She sees a charcoal drawing of a woman’s back. She is nude, and it takes a moment for Ruby to see what she is doing. She is drying herself with a towel.
“It’s called After the Bath. It’s by Edgar Degas.” He is cradling the book in front of her.
“It’s beautiful. She’s beautiful.” Her fingers trace the lines of the image.
“See the strength of her back, of her shoulder. This book is filled with beautiful artwork. Go ahead, flip to any page, you’ll see.”
Ruby takes the book from him. She is afraid to look at him. She flips a few pages and opens the book wide to a chiseled statue of David.
“Well now.” He is teasing her.
She looks at the naked figure, “Oh my god, William, I’m-“
He is laughing. She is sure she is dying.
“That would be David.” He says. “By Michelangelo.” What else can she do but laugh with him? She closes the book to hand it back to him.
“You can borrow it if you like.”
“Oh, no, not your favorite one.” No one has ever entrusted her with something of value before.
“Ruby, they’re not all naked.” He holds the book out to her, “Go ahead.”
“Thank you.” Their hands touch. She is under water. She is soaring. She looks straight at him. She sees something in his eyes, a flash, a feeling, a lightning strike. She will kiss him.
“It’s late, and I have more work to do.” He moves away from her and sits at his desk.
“William?”
“Go to bed, Ruby.” He puts his glasses on and runs his hand over his head. “It’s late.”
Professional Reviews
Hush the baby, but not the author by Angela Hooper
Hush Baby is an excellent story; one of those books that is a pleasure to read and a very rewarding experience. Hush Baby is a very, very good story, nicely told, full of raw human emotions and troubles, but very much worth the pain, as the ending turns out to be a poignant, powerful experience.
Lena and Ruby's tale is told in a strong way; you feel their pain, and their all-too-brief pleasures, you struggle with them against life's unfairness, but lessons are learnt along the way.
Natalie is a very talented writer, and I am looking forward to reading more of her work.
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