Page 29 of Christmas for the Village Midwife (The Village Midwife #2)

They’d stayed longer than either of them had intended to, despite the fact that the snow was still falling at a steady pace.

They’d left a few final stragglers with Magnus and Geoff and were now struggling up to Hilltop, having agreed that it might be easier for Zoe to stay over rather than Alex having to see her to Kestrel Cottage (which he would have insisted on) and then trying to tackle the fields back to his own house in the dark.

‘Did someone move Thimblebury to the North Pole when we weren’t looking?

’ she asked as her feet slipped from under her for the third time.

If she’d seen the forecast, or known she’d be making her way back so late, she’d have worn better boots.

As it was, the ones she’d settled on were cute enough but not very practical, as she was currently finding out.

‘I wouldn’t be surprised to hear it. I hope Billie’s all right up there.’

‘She said so when you messaged her.’

‘I know, but…sometimes I wonder if it’s too cut off for us.

For her especially, at her age. I think she likes living there…

I’m sure it was what we both needed when we first came back to England, but things were different then.

Now, we’re both feeling more optimistic, ready to be a part of society again.

At least, I know I am. I think Billie’s beginning to feel the same. ’

‘I don’t know as much as you about it, but I think you might be right. About Billie, I mean. She seems to be coming out of her shell, doesn’t she? It’s a shame she didn’t fancy the party; I think she’d have enjoyed it. Sort of. I suppose we were all a lot older than her.’

‘That’s never bothered her – she’s always been comfortable with people of any age. There were a lot of older expats living around us in Spain, and she never had a problem making time to chat to them.’

‘I wish I could have known that version of her. I bet she was different. Losing Luis must have been devastating for her.’

‘It turned her into a completely different person, but then, we lost Jennifer not all that long before, so we were both struggling as it was.’

He was silent for a moment, and Zoe reached for his hand.

‘Sorry,’ she said. ‘I didn’t mean to bring all that up.’

‘It’s all right. It was a hard time for both of us, but I like to think we’re coming out of the other side finally. I think you’ve had a lot to do with that.’

‘I hope so. I feel the same about you. It’s nothing like what you went through, but after I lost the baby and then Ritchie and I split, things looked bleak. But then I came here and met you, and I’m hopeful for the future. I feel like I can finally enjoy life again.’

‘So it was a stroke of luck for both of us. It’s funny where life takes you, isn’t it? When you least expect it.’

‘It is. I mean, who’d have thought, this time six months ago, we’d be together, tipsy on cava, chucking snowballs at one another.’

‘In a garden full of other people all doing the same and all old enough to know better.’ He gave a soft laugh. ‘I know, not me.’

‘I’ve had a brilliant time, though. Magnus and Geoff are brilliant. In fact, everyone is brilliant.’

‘So are you.’

‘And you.’

He laughed again. ‘Do you think we’re still a bit drunk?’

‘We might be. At least the alcohol in our bloodstreams will keep out the cold.’

It took twice as long to get to the crest of the hill as it would normally do, and in the thick snowfall they could only just make out the lights of Hilltop Farm.

There was one on in almost every window, and Zoe wondered if Billie had done that deliberately, having been messaged by Alex to say they were starting out, worried that they wouldn’t find their way back otherwise.

By now, Zoe’s boots were letting in water, and she’d given up on her ill-fitting hood halfway up, so now her hair was soaked and heavy with a layer of snow.

‘It’d be typical if we get all this now and nothing next week for Christmas Day,’ she panted as they made their way to the gate.

‘I think it’s going to be off and on for the next few days at least,’ Alex said. ‘So you never know. Make a wish for it and see what happens.’

‘What am I going to wish on? I can’t see any stars, let alone falling ones, and I certainly can’t find a four-leaf clover in this lot.’

‘Good point. We’ll have to think of something else when we’re in and dry.’

The kitchen was lit by a lamp placed on the windowsill that wasn’t usually there. It was warm and smelled of hot chocolate, with the prize-winning gingerbread house standing in the middle of the kitchen table, but Billie was nowhere to be seen.

‘Billie?’ Alex called as he closed the back door and took off his coat.

‘She might have gone to bed,’ Zoe said. ‘It has taken us ages to get home, so she might have got fed up of waiting.’

‘She didn’t say she was going to.’

‘I know, but…’

Billie came through from the living room in thick socks and a fleecy dressing gown fastened over her baby bump. Grizzle was at her heels but then tore over to make a fuss of Alex the moment he saw him. ‘Oh, you’re back. Was the party good?’

‘It was fun.’ Zoe ruffled Grizzle’s head as he sniffed at her for a moment, tail going mad, before deciding he wanted Alex after all.

‘I didn’t think you’d come back in this,’ Billie added. ‘Is it deep out there?’

Alex looked up from untying his laces. He’d been struggling to see what he was doing because Grizzle kept sticking his head in his face, and he had to keep pushing him out of the way. ‘Deep enough. If it carries on like this, I might have to decide which of you I eat first.’

‘Dad,’ Billie replied in a withering tone. ‘You’re really not as funny as you think you are.’

‘It was a struggle getting up here,’ Zoe said, laughing. ‘I’m going to stay over, if that’s all right with you. It’ll save me trying to get back to my place and breaking an ankle.’

‘It doesn’t make a difference to me either way,’ Billie said. She went to the sink and got herself a glass of water.

‘There it is…’ Alex said, going to look at the gingerbread house. ‘Have you come down after your moment of triumph?’

‘It was just a village thing.’ But Billie turned her gaze to her entry and Zoe was certain she saw the tiniest smile of pride there. ‘Anyway,’ she said, draining her glass and dumping it into the sink, ‘I only wanted to wait up until you were home, so I’m going to bed now.’

‘Right then,’ Alex said. ‘Goodnight. Thanks for putting the lamp in the window for us.’

‘It’s all right.’ Billie snapped her fingers. ‘Griz! Come on!’

Grizzle skittered across the tiles of the kitchen floor to follow her. A moment later, her footsteps sounded on the stairs, and the dog’s, lighter, alongside. Then a door slammed upstairs and all was quiet.

Alex turned to Zoe, taking her face in his hands. He was about to kiss her when he stopped, screwing his eyes up as he studied something, a quiet smile lighting his face.

‘Hang on…’ He put his pinky finger gently to her cheek, picked something up and then held it out for her to see. ‘Eyelash. You said you wanted something to wish on.’

Zoe blew it away and closed her eyes. ‘Done.’

‘So did you wish for snow on Christmas Day?’

‘I can’t tell you, can I? Otherwise it won’t come true.’

‘Spoilsport.’

‘I don’t make the rules. Take it up with the wish people…fairies, leprechauns…whoever they are.’

He grinned, and she was taken by a sudden yawn. ‘OK, well that’s my wish snuffed out.’

‘Huh?’

‘You’re tired.’

‘A bit. It has been a very long day. Sorry.’

‘Come on then, sleepy, before you nod off where you’re standing.’

When Zoe woke the next morning, she was in bed alone.

She clambered out and went to the window just in time to see Alex go out of the gate with Grizzle at his heels.

The hills were like a rolling duvet of white cotton, stretching as far as she could see.

Normally from here she could make out the shapes of Kestrel Cottage and Daffodil Farm in the distance, but today she could barely see either of them.

Alex turned back and looked up and, spotting her, gave a cheery wave.

She waved back with a broad smile, a little disappointed that he hadn’t woken her so she could have gone out with him.

But there’d be plenty of time later to take a walk in the snow, and perhaps it would be a good idea to get some breakfast inside her first.

Billie was in the kitchen making toast when Zoe went down there.

‘Morning.’

Billie turned to her. ‘Oh, hey. I didn’t think you’d be up yet, or I’d have asked if you wanted anything.’

‘Don’t worry, I can get my own. Sleep all right?’

‘Fine – I was knackered. You?’

‘Same. It was tough going coming up that hill in the snow last night; I was out as soon as my head hit the pillow.’

‘I bet the drink helped as well,’ Billie said with a wry smile.

‘Did we seem that drunk to you?’

‘A bit. I guess it means you had a good time.’

‘I’m glad your dad’s not here, actually,’ Zoe said as she went to fill the kettle. ‘I wanted to pick your brains about his Christmas present.’

‘What have you got for him?’

‘That’s just it – I haven’t got anything yet.

I know I’m really behind, but Christmas has sort of crept up on me, and now I’m going to have to do everything last minute.

I don’t have a clue what to get him, though.

Any ideas? What sort of things might he like, or is there something he’s said he wants? ’

Zoe folded her arms and waited for a reply, but Billie only shrugged and bit into her toast. ‘I haven’t got him anything yet either.’

‘Hmm. Maybe we could go shopping together then?’

‘Where? There’s literally nowhere around here other than Magnus and Geoff’s place.’

‘We’d have to go further afield.’

‘I’m going to order something online probably. I can’t go today anyway.’

‘Oh, you’re busy?’

‘I’m going to meet Maisie.’

‘You are?’ Zoe beamed. ‘That’s good! Where?’

‘Not sure yet. Don’t know what the buses are like at the moment, but we’ll think of somewhere. Or I’ll have her round here.’