Page 26 of New Dreams for the Village Nurse
‘Absolutely.’ Ottilie put her wine down to take off her coat.
‘And as soon as you hear some news you must let us know.’
‘I will,’ Ottilie said.
‘So you haven’t been home yet?’ Stacey asked.
‘No, I’ve been up to Daffodil Farm. Had a quick cup of tea with Corrine and Victor.’
‘Ah. And they’re well?’
‘I think so. Corrine was showing me this stunning ring Victor had bought for her.’
‘Really? I didn’t know he had it in him.’
Ottilie smiled. ‘I think he wants to show her how much she means to him.’
‘Lucky cow,’ Stacey said.
‘They’ve had a new alpaca as well.’
‘Don’t they have enough already?’ Geoff asked.
‘This one’s a rescue apparently.’
‘What have they called her?’
Ottilie’s smile became a bit more sheepish. ‘Would you believe they’ve called her Ottilie?’
Stacey clapped her hands together. ‘That’s brilliant!’
‘I’d like to see,’ Magnus said. ‘I bet she’s cute.’
‘I thought you said they were smelly long-necked sheep with delusions of grandeur,’ Geoff cut in.
‘That was a joke,’ Magnus said hotly.
‘It didn’t sound like a joke.’
‘If you can’t tell a joke from a serious observation, then you’re in trouble.’
‘It looks as if I can’t. I married you after all…’
Ottilie frowned at Stacey, who let out a sigh and signalled for Ottilie to follow her into the living room.
‘They’ve been driving me mental for the last hour,’ she said in a low voice as she and Ottilie moved away from the bickering. ‘Don’t know what’s got into them.’
‘Poor you. Where’s Chloe and Mackenzie?’
‘Well…’ Stacey took a breath and sat down. ‘She’s taken him to meet this person she went to meet the other day.’
‘She told you that?’
‘Not in so many words, but I sort of worked it out. It must be serious because she doesn’t take Mackenzie out on her own, and certainly not on the bus into another town.’
‘Aren’t you worried about her?’
Stacey blinked. ‘She’s an adult; I can’t tell her what to do. I don’t know that there’s any cause to worry yet, and she’ll have to get used to taking Mackenzie out eventually, so she might as well start now.’ Stacey took a thoughtful sip of her wine. ‘Do you think I ought to be worried?’
