Page 35 of Christmas for the Village Midwife (The Village Midwife #2)

Two days before Christmas, Zoe still hadn’t managed to find the perfect gift for Alex.

She’d ordered a few things online, but every single one had arrived and was either far less impressive than she’d hoped, damaged or suddenly the stupidest idea she’d ever had.

She’d always hated buying gifts online anyway, and this depressing display only confirmed to her why that was.

At this point, she’d settle for any gift at all, and so she kept them in reserve and, with time running out, she decided to head to the only town with a late-night opening for the shops, determined to return with something better.

To save time, as soon as the surgery had closed, she changed quickly from her uniform in the bathroom with the intention of going straight to the bus stop from there. While she was getting into her own clothes, her phone bleeped a text message.

Hey, gorgeous, don’t know if you’ve noticed it starting to snow again. Want me to come down and pick you up? X

I’m fine. I’ll leave my car here and walk, thanks. See you tomorrow for the carols. X

It looks like it might be bad. Better if I come to get you. X

Zoe smiled ruefully. On any other evening she’d be feeling smug about how lucky she was to have found such a wonderful man, but today his concern was a spoke in the wheel for her plans.

She didn’t want to tell him where she was going because she didn’t want him to know how last-minute his gift had been when he opened it on Christmas morning.

She was rather hoping it would look well thought out and expensive (that would be a Christmas miracle because she was fairly broke too), and him knowing she was dashing to a nearby town on a last-minute quest wasn’t going to help with that illusion.

I’ve got some things to do at the surgery, so won’t be ready for a while. Just spoken to Simon and he says he can take me home if needs be. X

Zoe hoped her little white lie would be enough and hurried to finish getting changed, shoving her uniform in a locker when she was done. Her phone bleeped again, and she was relieved to see Alex content with her pretend arrangements.

OK. Text me when you’re home so I know you’re safe and call if you need help after all. Can’t wait to see you tomorrow. X

When Alex had messaged to say the snow had started again, she already knew it was in the forecast, but when she stepped outside, she was taken aback by how quickly conditions had worsened.

Over the past couple of weeks, it seemed that the cloud of arctic weather was simply stuck over the Lakes, and no sooner did it seem to be clearing than it began to come down again.

It had snowed on and off for the past week fairly solidly, and it was only the relentless efforts of those in the village who had tractors and shovels keeping the lanes here clear enough to walk.

The roads leaving the village, however, were a different matter.

Almost everyone who’d ventured out had reported back that they were virtually unpassable in places unless you had a stout set of tyres and front wheel drive.

Aware that she wasn’t the most confident driver in the best of circumstances, Zoe was pinning her hopes on a functioning bus service to take her where she needed to go.

She could have asked Victor to take her, but she didn’t want to bother him when he was busy getting ready for his own Christmas, and even if she did, she wouldn’t expect him to wait around for her, so she’d still have the issue of getting back to Thimblebury when she was done.

By the time she reached the bus stop, she was sweating under her layers.

She wiped the snow from the timetable pinned up on a post and checked to see how long she’d have to wait.

Fifteen minutes. It wasn’t too bad on any other day, but once she cooled down from her walk, she might start to get very cold.

She glanced towards the shop, a little way down the road, and saw that the lights were on, so they were open, and wondered if Magnus and Geoff had their hot drink machine running today.

Leaving the bus stop, she decided to go and ask. She was hungry too, and so perhaps a packet of sandwiches or a bag of crisps wouldn’t go amiss.

Magnus was leaning on the counter staring at the windows when Zoe opened the door.

‘I bet this is a walk in the park for you,’ she said, stamping the snow from her boots before going in.

‘I’m used to seeing it at home, of course, but we’re a lot better at carrying on in Iceland than you are here. I hope you’re not planning to go far,’ he added.

‘Into Windermere, actually. I was just wondering if you had your hot drinks on. I thought I might get a cup of chocolate to see me through while I wait for the bus.’

‘The buses are running?’ Magnus asked as he went to switch the vending machine on. It whirred and clicked as it set up. ‘It won’t be a minute. Is there anything else you want while you’re waiting?’

‘I’ll take these,’ she said, grabbing a bag of crisps from the stand and putting them on the counter. ‘I really hope the buses are running,’ she continued as she got out her purse. ‘Otherwise I’m sunk. Have you heard anything?’

‘We’ve had the radio on, but there’s been nothing on the traffic report – at least I haven’t noticed if there has, but I haven’t really been listening for that sort of thing. Sorry.’

‘That’s all right,’ Zoe said. ‘There isn’t one due for fifteen minutes. I’ll have my warm drink and my crisps, and I’ll just wait. I’m sure it’ll be fine.’

‘Is it desperate that you get to Windermere?’

‘Not life and death, but I could really do with getting there. I need to do some last-minute things for Christmas.’ She shrugged.

‘Don’t mention it to Alex if you see him, but I haven’t got his present yet.

I’m so annoyed at myself, really, but I’ve just been so busy, and the time’s gone nowhere, and now here I am, two days before Christmas and still not ready.

Next year I’m going to be more organised. ’

‘I say that every year.’

‘Yeah…’ Zoe gave a rueful smile. ‘Me too.’

‘Do you know what you’re going to get? Will it be easy to pick it up and come straight home?’

‘Not really, which is hardly helpful, I know. Don’t suppose you have any ideas?’

Magnus pressed the buttons for Zoe’s drink. ‘I barely know what to get for Geoff these days, let alone anybody else. What sort of things does he like? He has hobbies?’

‘I mean, we haven’t been together all that long, have we?

So I feel as if I barely know myself. I ought to – we spend a lot of time together – but beyond the obvious, like things for the house or aftershave or whatever, I don’t have a clue.

And I really don’t want to get him something that predictable. ’

‘I think a well-chosen cologne can be a lovely gift.’ Magnus put the lid on her drink and set it down on the counter for her. ‘There’s nothing wrong with the basics. I think they’re only wrong if you choose badly. I’d be very happy with a nice set of pyjamas or some bath salts.’

Zoe smiled as she took her drink. She wasn’t going to say so, but bath salts and pyjamas were absolutely not on her list. ‘Thanks, Magnus. Well…’ she added as she went to the door. ‘Wish me luck!’

‘Stay safe,’ he said, waving her out. ‘Will we see you at the carol service tomorrow evening?’

‘Wouldn’t miss it,’ Zoe said before stepping out into the snow again.

With her hands cupped around her drink, Zoe waited at the bus stop.

She didn’t see a single car pass, and although someone had cleared the road earlier that day, the tarmac was already beginning to disappear under a fresh layer of snow.

At this rate, Alex would be opening a ski resort rather than a glamping site.

Twenty minutes had passed, and although she was getting colder now that she’d finished her drink, Zoe didn’t worry that there was still no sign of the bus.

It was hardly a surprise that it might run late in weather like this, and she was prepared for a delay.

But when forty minutes passed, she stamped her feet against the cold, looked up into a heavy sky and wondered if it was going to come after all.

After an hour had passed and she’d started to give up, she heard her name being called and looked up to see Emilia walking towards her.

‘Are you all right?’ she asked. ‘I thought you’d gone home ages ago.’

‘I left, but I didn’t go home. I was hoping to get a bus to Windermere, but I’ve been waiting an hour and I’m ready to give up.

I suppose they’re either hopelessly behind or not running at all.

I checked online and I didn’t see any notifications, but…

’ Zoe shrugged. ‘Since when was bus information round here bang up to date?’

‘I wouldn’t know – I don’t use them. So you’re just going to wait until you turn into a human snowman? What’s so important for you to get to Windermere tonight anyway?’

‘Would you believe Christmas shopping?’

‘I would. I can’t remember the last time I finished mine with room to spare. I’ve still got things to get.’

Zoe tried not to show her surprise, but it was there. The way she’d been acting up over Lavender’s seasonal enthusiasm, she wouldn’t have imagined Emilia giving Christmas gifts a second thought. She’d given the impression that she didn’t celebrate it at all. ‘So what are you going to do?’

‘I expect I’ll do mail order to aunts and uncles and cousins. I know it’s a bit late but I can order them next day delivery when I get home. Georgia and I have agreed not to buy this year, so that’s one out of the way.’

‘I couldn’t do that,’ Zoe said, and then immediately wished she hadn’t, given what she’d recently learned of Georgia’s financial troubles.

It may have been that Emilia’s lack of enthusiasm had her fully on board with a plan to ignore gift buying for her sister, but it was more likely that she’d either agreed or suggested it because Georgia had very little money to spare.