Page 19 of Christmas for the Village Midwife (The Village Midwife #2)

If Zoe was worried about Maisie’s reaction to her suggestion that she might like to connect with Billie, she needn’t have been.

On her lunch break the following day, she made a quick call with the concocted story, and Maisie seemed flattered by Zoe’s request. It was difficult to know what that meant for how it would play out, and Zoe wondered if she’d come to regret putting these particular wheels in motion, but she passed on Billie’s number anyway and decided to let the two young women work it out for themselves.

The rest of her work day was routine, but it was still busy, and by the time she’d seen the last appointment out and cleaned her room, she was ready for a hot bath and a night in front of the television.

She and Alex had agreed on at least two nights a week where they didn’t meet up, and though they were both finding those nights torture, she agreed it was a good idea to have some time apart – if only so Billie didn’t start to feel neglected.

She’d just arrived home, courtesy of a lift from Victor through snow that was frozen into hard drifts on the roadsides, when a text from Georgia came through.

How do I know if I’m having Braxton Hicks or the real thing?

Trust me, when you have the real thing, you’ll know! It won’t be long now! Do you need me to come over?

Yes, but only because I’m bored and I need you to entertain me. Where have you been all week?

You saw me three days ago!

Feels like forever. Am I on rations now? Come over. I have crisps. Lots of crisps. I need help eating them.

What about Brett?

He’s out. Emilia is working. I’m so bored I might go into labour right now.

Zoe gave a small smile. She didn’t reply immediately.

She was tired and felt grubby from a day in an office where the heating had been set far too high, and as much as she wanted to oblige Georgia, she also needed some time alone to decompress.

It was something that had felt in short supply recently, scarcer and scarcer as she became more deeply involved in the lives of Alex and Billie, and now Georgia.

Not to mention the expectant mums in her care and all her other new friendships.

Her visits to Ottilie, Stacey, and Corrine and Victor might have been more casual, but collectively they all ate into the time she had simply to exist as herself.

However, she had always found it almost impossible to ignore a call for help, and the more she thought about it, the more she recognised a subtext to Georgia’s messages.

Bored meant lonely. Brett was out again, and Emilia was working late.

Did neither of them see that Georgia needed their support?

Emilia had said as much to Zoe, and yet she didn’t seem to be doing her bit.

As for Brett…Zoe was beginning to see that he was rarely around.

When she’d visited that first time, he’d been absent, and every time Georgia texted in the days since, there would be some hint – if not explicitly said – that he wasn’t there with her.

What was he doing? Where on earth could he be sneaking off to all the time?

It was especially perplexing when Zoe thought about how close Georgia’s labour was – most men would be making the effort to be around more, not less, on standby for the big event.

Georgia was due on New Year’s Day, so in her case the big event was extremely imminent.

After another moment of indecision that she decided was a bit on the uncharitable side, she texted back.

Can you give me an hour? Need to shower and get my head on straight, then I’ll call to see you.

If you’re tired, there’s no pressure. You don’t have to. Sorry, I didn’t think. I bet you’ve had a hard day.

Honestly, it’s fine. It will be lovely to chat, and you can tell me all about your plans for when the baby arrives! See you around 7.30?

I’d love that, thank you!

By the time Zoe showed up at Emilia’s house, Brett had returned from wherever it was he’d been. He was polite as he greeted her but tense, and it looked as though Georgia had been crying. Zoe wanted to ask but realised it might not be the right moment – if it was even her business at all.

Despite this, Georgia gave Zoe a broad smile and a warm hug. ‘You know you really didn’t have to come out in the cold if you didn’t feel like it, but is it bad that I’m glad you did?’

‘Aww, no, it’s not. Sometimes I need a kick up the backside – it’s too easy to stay home and rot. I’m glad I came out. I can’t stay late, though, if that’s all right. Alex dropped me off. He says I can phone him to come and get me in a few hours.’

‘Alex?’

‘He was coming down to the village anyway, and he knows I’m not fond of driving down that hill in the dark. I can’t say I’m always fond of walking it – it’s so steep! I mean, I get on with it when I have to, but it’s nice to have a lift.’

‘Alex doesn’t need to come out – Brett and I can take you home.’

‘It’s fine. I can?—’

‘I insist! Brett – we’ll take Zoe home later, won’t we?’

Zoe decided, looking at Brett’s face as he put the can of beer he’d just taken from the fridge back with a barely disguised sigh of impatience, she’d rather go up to Kestrel Cottage blindfolded on roller skates than have him drive her. He nodded stiffly before she had time to protest again.

‘Of course we will. Tell your boyfriend not to worry about it. It’s not like I’ve got anything else to do…’ he added as he left the kitchen.

Perhaps he’d assumed it was under his breath, but Zoe heard well enough. She watched him go. She was no expert on body language, but she’d seen more positive-looking examples of that too.

Once he was gone, she turned back to Georgia with a painted-on smile. ‘So you’re making the most of your time in the Lakes? Brett certainly seems to be enjoying being out.’

‘He’s walking a lot.’

‘He likes walking?’

‘He’s been known to. It wears me out at the moment, so I don’t go. And I think he appreciates some quiet time. Let’s face it, there’ll be precious little of that in a few weeks.’

‘Newborns do tend to liven things up. Does he have any paternity leave lined up?’

‘No. I mean, yes, he’ll have time at home. Probably. It’s all a bit up in the air at the moment.’

Zoe wanted to ask why, but again, she couldn’t tell if it would be a welcome enquiry or not.

And then Georgia lowered her voice and it seemed the mask finally slipped. ‘Things are a struggle right now.’

‘For you?’

‘For us both. I might as well tell you…I don’t know why I was bothering to hide it, really.’

‘The pregnancy’s been hard?’

‘Among other things…’ Georgia paused and seemed about to share something significant with her, but then – and it was hard to be sure – seemed to change tack.

‘Emilia is helping to look after me, which is more than a lot have. She’s been so kind, more than we deserve.

I should be grateful I have her. I suppose it’s the baby making me feel down, and I really have no right to… ’

‘It’s all right. You don’t owe anyone an apology for how you feel. I’m here if you want to get it off your chest.’

‘I know, and it’s so kind of you, especially when we haven’t seen one another for so long.’

‘That makes no difference. Old friend, new friend, absent-for-a-while friend…it’s still a friend.’

Georgia’s eyes filled with tears. ‘Look at me – all hormonal!’

‘I think you can be forgiven for that. I’m here now if you want to talk. You’re welcome to make good use of me.’

‘I would, but…’ Georgia’s gaze went to the door Brett had just left by.

Zoe nodded. ‘Maybe next time we can arrange to go out. If the weather improves, at any rate.’

‘I’d like that.’

‘Not far, of course. We could drive out somewhere, have lunch. Have you been far since you got here? There are some beautiful little towns, and right now they look even prettier with the snow and the Christmas decorations. In fact, Alex took me to Keswick not long ago for the light switch-on, and their decorations are amazing. If you’re up to it, we could have a few hours there, get some food, take a look around, maybe get coffee – nothing taxing, of course. ’

Georgia gave an enthusiastic nod. ‘That sounds lovely. I’d like to see a lot more of the area.’

‘You haven’t done much exploring yet?’

‘None. Brett’s been for a few walks, but, like I said, I’d get too puffed out by that so I don’t go. And Em’s been too busy to take me out in the car. She’s got a lot to do, at the surgery, getting straight here…you know.’

‘Sounds like it’s been boring. There’s not much to do in Thimblebury itself other than walking. Hasn’t Brett fancied a day trip out?’

‘I don’t think he’s been in the mood for that sort of thing. He’s got a lot on his mind.’

Zoe was going to ask more about Brett’s worries when the sound of smashing glass reached them from another room.

It was followed by Brett swearing. The colour drained from Georgia’s face, and the air was suddenly stiff with tension.

He wasn’t even in the same room as them and yet Brett’s mood – whatever it was – overshadowed everything.