Page 56 of New Dreams for the Village Nurse
‘And you can’t argue with that,’ Ottilie said. ‘I love her to bits but even I can’t stick up for her there.’
‘I don’t know where you find the patience,’ Magnus said as Ottilie made her way to the door to leave.
‘Aww, she’s not so bad when you understand her.’
‘That’s the problem,’ Magnus said as Ottilie opened the door. ‘I don’t think I’ll ever understand that woman as long as I live.’
Stacey was on her way in as Ottilie left the shop.
‘Hey, stranger,’ she greeted. ‘Where’ve you been hiding? Haven’t seen you for ages.’
Ottilie laughed lightly. ‘It’s only been about a week.’
‘It feels like longer. I should take that as a compliment. So you’ve been busy. Work, I suppose? I hear a certain doctor is staying on. What do you have to say about this rumour? Is it true? Are my sources correct?’
‘I forget how fast things get round this place,’ Ottilie said, and it suddenly occurred to her that Magnus might have been pretending not to already know about Simon so as not to steal her thunder. Sweet, but not necessary – Ottilie was under no illusions about the efficiency of the gossip wheel in Thimblebury. ‘He is. Who told you?’
‘Now, now, you know that’s not how it works. I have to protect my sources or they won’t tell me anything again.’
‘Lavender?’ Ottilie raised her eyebrows and Stacey laughed.
‘I will neither confirm nor deny.’
‘It was Lavender then.’
‘And I hear he’s going to be relocating to Thimblebury.’
‘That’s the plan, I think.’
‘So we’ll be seeing a lot more of him.’
‘Possibly.’
‘I’d like to see a lot more of him…and I’m not talking about living here.’
Ottilie grinned. ‘You’re terrible. I’ll pretend I didn’t hear that. How’s everything with you anyway? Any more on Chloe’s secret boyfriend?’
‘Apart from the fact that she won’t tell me anything so now I definitely know there’s a boy, not really. It’s like something from an espionage film – every time her phone rings she sneaks out with it and she’s whispering. It’d be funny if it wasn’t so ridiculous. What does she think I’m going to do? Ask for proof of honourable intentions and a copy of his latest bank statement? I don’t care who she sees as long as he’s a good’un and he makes her happy.’
‘I seem to recall I was a bit like that when I was younger,’ Ottilie said. ‘I don’t think my parents ever met a boyfriend until I got serious with Josh.’
‘I was like that when I was about fifteen but I’d got it sorted by the time I was Chloe’s age.’
‘Aww, I suppose she’s being cautious after her bad experience with Mackenzie’s dad. How is the cutest little man in Thimblebury by the way?’
‘Oh, he gets more gorgeous every day. Listen…what are you up to tonight?’
‘Not a lot.’
‘Fancy coming round to mine for an hour? Chloe will be out and I’m babysitting, but Mackenzie will probably be down by about eight, and he more or less sleeps through the night now. It’d be good to catch up. I wanted to run some ideas for the mum and baby group by you as well.’
‘That sounds lovely.’
‘Great! Turn up whenever you’re ready!’
After a quick shower Ottilie headed back over to Stacey’s house. They hadn’t arranged to eat, but she had some curry left over and decided to take it with her so they could share it. Even if Stacey had eaten, Ottilie was so hungry she was certain she could manage the entire lot by herself. She was still thinking about it when Stacey opened the front door, the relaxed and fun version from earlier gone and replaced by a face etched with worry. Mackenzie was in her arms, red-faced and screaming.
‘What’s wrong with him?’
