Page 14 of Christmas for the Village Midwife (The Village Midwife #2)

Zoe had only been inside Simon’s old house a couple of times, but it was still strange seeing someone else’s belongings in there.

As she approached, she noticed that the garden was hidden beneath a blanket of snow that hadn’t yet melted, but the path to the front door had been cleared.

It had gone from the roof apart from scattered patches.

The houses either side had Christmas decorations in the windows and outside, draped from trees and shrubs, but Zoe noticed that there were none in Emilia’s.

But she’d only recently arrived and perhaps making her house festive wasn’t on her list of priorities.

Inside, the place was cluttered – far more than was reasonable for one person.

Simon had left furniture behind because it had never belonged to him in the first place – having been left for him by Charles, Fliss’s husband, when they’d rented it to Simon – and even if he’d owned it, he wouldn’t have needed to take it with him when he moved in with Stacey, who already had everything they might need.

But even taking all that into consideration, the barely contained chaos that littered every surface and lined every wall suggested that either Emilia was a classic hoarder, or she had enough belongings to account for two or three people.

Given the way Brett had been stressed out at the removal team, it was fair to assume that some of these things belonged to him and Georgia, which suggested they were planning to stay for an extended period of time.

Hadn’t Emilia said something about their stay being open-ended, now that Zoe thought about it?

She’d been cagey about the details. Why?

Added to the request to care for Georgia for the remainder of her pregnancy, it painted a picture of…uncertainty? Perhaps a couple who weren’t sure of their situation, both in the present and the near future.

If all this was going on, Georgia herself didn’t seem troubled by it as she opened the door to Zoe. She met her old friend with a broad, open smile.

‘Come in! I mean, come in if you can get in! We’re a bit upside down…’

She led Zoe into a cosy sitting room, made even cosier by the reduced floor space that Zoe would soon notice characterising the entire house.

After more initial greetings and apologies for the mess, Zoe noticed they were alone in there.

She hadn’t expected Brett or Emilia to stick around, but she’d thought they might have at least popped in to say hello on her arrival.

‘Brett’s gone for a walk,’ Georgia said, answering the question before it was asked.

‘Lunatic. It’s freezing out there, not to mention there’s black ice everywhere.

I don’t know what he expects to see in the dark.

Still, he’s a grown man and I can hardly stop him.

Emilia’s gone back to the surgery to do some bits and bobs.

She says she won’t be long, but we’ve all heard that one before. ’

Zoe took a seat on the sofa while Georgia eased herself into an armchair. ‘Emilia seems really dedicated.’

‘That’s one word for it. If you ask me, she’ll work herself into a breakdown.

Todd used to say—her ex,’ Georgia said in answer to another unasked question.

‘They split last year. He used to say her job was an obsession. Between you and me, I think her time at work had a lot to do with the marriage failing, but she wouldn’t thank me for saying so.

Perhaps don’t mention that to her. She’s weird about this stuff.

Always was…I mean, I suppose she hasn’t told you anything about it herself? ’

Zoe shook her head.

‘That figures,’ Georgia said, shifting to get comfortable. ‘Always was a secretive one.’

‘I remember we were never allowed in her room, but, honestly, isn’t that all teenagers?’

‘I expect so. I couldn’t say. But she’s never grown out of it – if there was ever any growing out of it to do. Anyway, what about you? I want a full rundown…you know, previously on…like on the telly. What’s been going on since primary school?’

‘Blimey, how long do you think we have?’

Georgia laughed, shaking her hair free of her collar. ‘OK, highlights then. Come on…what about this romance for a start?’

‘Alex? Well…’

‘He’s new to the village too, isn’t he? He’s building holiday lets or something. He’s found some treasure. Has a daughter…those are the things I already know.’

‘Who told you all that?’

‘I went to the shop for some dishwashing liquid.’

‘Of course you did! And it was probably Magnus…although Geoff’s been known to gossip every now and again.

As long as you know it works both ways – they’ll tell you what everyone is up to, and you’ll be so entertained by it that you won’t notice them collecting information to share with everyone else about you. ’

‘Oh, I’m cleverer than that – he didn’t get anything.’ She pointed to her swollen belly. ‘Apart from the obvious, of course.’

‘Speaking of which, how is the pregnancy? Not too stressful?’

‘It’s been stressful at times, but for reasons that are nothing to do with the baby. But you don’t want to hear about that now; it’s boring, and you’re avoiding telling me about you. We’ll get to my stuff later.’

‘I’m not, and if I am it’s only because there’s nothing exciting to tell. I trained to be a midwife, became a midwife, got married, got divorced and then met Alex.’

‘No kids in that lot?’

Zoe’s pause had been unintentionally dramatic, but it telegraphed her sadness well enough that Georgia’s smile faded.

‘No,’ she said. ‘Not for the want of trying. I did manage to get pregnant eventually, but…’ She shook her head and sucked in a steadying breath. She wasn’t going to let that darkness in, not here and now.

‘Oh, Zoe, I’m so sorry. Can’t you have children then? Is that what you’re saying?’

‘I don’t know. I don’t think there’s an obvious issue, but it seems less likely with every year that passes. It’s all right – I’m happy enough. It’s just how things are sometimes, isn’t it? Do you know what you’re having?’

Georgia looked conflicted. It was clear she wanted to ask Zoe more about her situation but perhaps sensed that Zoe didn’t want to talk about it. In the end, she gave a smile that looked forced with her reply. ‘No. I want it to be a surprise. Brett wanted to know, but he’ll have to wait, won’t he?’

‘I think it’s all right for you to call the shots, as you’re doing all the heavy lifting. Thought of any names?’

‘A few. I think there’s a difference of opinion there too. In fact, I know there is and it’s massive! Brett hates all of mine, and I’m not so fond of his. Do you think I’m entitled to call the shots there too?’

‘I’d say yes, but I might be biased. So what have you got?’

‘I like Melody for a girl, Miles for a boy.’

Zoe nodded as if giving the matter grave consideration. ‘Solid names. Very nice.’

‘Liar,’ Georgia said with a grin. ‘I haven’t seen you for years, but I haven’t forgotten that face. You don’t like them.’

‘Yes, I do…but it doesn’t matter anyway, does it? I think most children grow into their names, however they sound to you at first. As they get older, you realise you couldn’t imagine them being called anything else.’

‘I know what you mean. So if I let Brett have his way, it might not be so bad – I might get to like them eventually?’

‘What’s he got?’

‘What hasn’t he got? He comes up with new attempts to win me over all the time, and each one is worse than the last! We got to Russell and Tina and I stopped listening.’

‘I suppose they’re quite old names – not very on trend – but they’re not that bad, are they?’

‘Really?’

Zoe grinned. ‘OK, I’m not sure I’d choose them.’

‘And do you remember Russell Stone from school?’

‘Oh, I do! No wonder it has bad connections for you! BO that could take your eyebrows off and a stinky personality to match! So that’s your reason for hating the name?’

‘Does there have to be another? I don’t want to think about rancid soup every time I call my kid in for tea.’

Zoe burst out laughing. ‘You’re still funny! So you could live with Tina? Or is there a Tina in your background doing the same job as Russell Stone? I don’t think we had a Tina in our class, did we?’

‘No, but I’ll just be thinking about Tina Turner all the time.’

Zoe was smiling as she shook her head with wonder. ‘Look at us – picking up like we never left off. I can’t believe we ever fell out.’

‘It was stupid, wasn’t it? For what it’s worth, I’m sorry we did. I missed out on a lot of years of fun.’

‘Me too, though we were set to go to different high schools. We’d probably have lost touch anyway.’

‘Probably. I’m glad we’ve run into one another again.’

‘So am I. It’s really good to see you.’

‘So you’re settling into village life?’

‘Very much so,’ said Zoe. ‘I never saw myself living somewhere like this, but now I’m here, I love it. I never say for ever, but I don’t think I’d be too upset if it was.’

‘It seems friendly.’

‘It’s very friendly. I sometimes wonder if it’s a bit too friendly at times.’ She raised her eyebrows, and Georgia laughed.

‘I expect I’ll find that out for myself if the shop is anything to go by. But everyone has been lovely to me so far.’

‘They are, and they’ll help anyone with anything. It’s a good community.’

‘So you rent your place? I mean, you haven’t bought it?’

‘From Victor and Corrine who own the farmland it’s on. They’re the best – it’s like having my mum and dad on the doorstep. And, of course, I have Alex on the neighbouring farm, which is lovely.’

‘I bet. So how long have you been seeing him?’

‘Not long at all – weeks. It was a rocky start, but it’s brilliant now. I have a good feeling about it.’

‘True love?’ Georgia said with a waggle of her eyebrows. ‘Or true lust?’

‘It’s too early to tell yet. I mean, absolutely true lust. As for the love…I’m hopeful. What about you and Brett?’

‘We have our moments, but yes, I’m happy. Things haven’t always been plain sailing, but, like you said, that’s just the way of things, isn’t it?’