Page 63 of The Village Midwife
Saturday was mild but gusty. Zoe had been down to the shop to get a few last-minute things for lunch with Ritchie the following day and had been quizzed by Magnus on her social life. What he really wanted to know was why she didn’t attend film club; it was clear that he could see no reason why she wouldn’t.
She was passing by Daffodil Farm when she saw Victor coming out of the gate.
‘Morning!’ he called. ‘You’re up and about early – your bed on fire?’
‘It’s not that early!’ Zoe replied, laughing as she went over to have a proper word. ‘And you’re up.’
‘But I’m a farmer. If I wasn’t, I’d sleep the clock round.’
Zoe glanced down to see Victor had what looked like his metal detector with him. ‘Are you going over to Hilltop with that?’
Victor beamed. ‘I am. Hope it’s worth my while.’
‘It’ll be fun even if you don’t find anything.’
‘He’s a nice fella, that Alex. I used to get on all right with Ann’s other half before he died, but he could be a bit up and down. I think Alex will be a good neighbour. How are you doing over there in Kestrel Cottage? Does it feel like home now?’
‘It’s getting there,’ Zoe said. ‘I mean, it’s a lovely little house and I’m grateful…’
‘Of course, but it’s all new for you here.’
‘Not so much now, thank goodness. I’m getting used to the pace, but it seemed ridiculously quiet at first. So are you going over to do your detecting now?’
‘I’ve got to go and see to the girls first. Come over with me if you like – say hello. They love visitors.’
‘I’ve got my shopping to take home?—’
‘I’ll wait if you want to drop it in and come back. No bother.’
Zoe thought about saying no thank you and going about her day. But what would she be doing with it? Cleaning, ready for her visitor, and really, what would Ritchie care if her house was clean? What did she care, even if he did have an opinion? It was her home, not his, and she didn’t have to answer to anyone these days. If she wanted to live in five feet of filth, she could and nobody could tell her not to. It would be fun to go and see Victor’s alpaca, and maybe she’d even get an invite to watch him and Alex do their detecting. It wasn’t the conventional way to spend a Saturday, but perhaps convention was overrated.
‘I’ll dash over and get my wellies on,’ she said. ‘And then I’d love to come and see the girls.’
‘You go and do that,’ Victor said cheerfully. ‘I’ll be here when you get back, don’t worry.’
A few minutes later, Zoe was trying to keep up with Victor as he strode across his land.
‘Five foot and a feather, remember?’ she panted. ‘Could you slow it down a bit for my little legs?’
Victor turned to her with a chuckle. ‘Sorry, flower, I forget. I’m so used to marching up and down these fields on my own.’
‘And I’m sure it’s kept you very fit over the years, but I’m not fit; I’m a lazy millennial with no stamina and a very short stride, so if you could just take your foot off the gas…’
‘Understood!’
Despite his promise, it didn’t seem to Zoe that they’d slowed the pace much at all. She was still out of breath by the time they reached the paddock where he kept his alpaca herd, wondering if she ought to join Stacey, Ottilie’s friend, on her current fitness kick.
‘Here we are…’ Victor started to undo the gate, and before he’d managed it, had already been noticed by at least four of his herd, who had started coming over.
‘See, they know it’s treat time,’ Victor said with a laugh. ‘All right there, Alice, Ottilie…calm down; I’ll be with you as soon as I can.’
‘It still makes me laugh that you called one of them Ottilie,’ Zoe said. She reached a tentative hand out to pat one of them on the nose. She didn’t think she’d ever be as comfortable around them as Victor was, and on first meeting she’d been a little nervous, but she was getting more used to them now.
‘Suits her,’ Victor said. ‘Next one we come by we’ll call Zoe – how’s that?’
‘I’m not sure. Obviously she’d be rubbish at trekking, and she’d be the one that kept going in the wrong direction all the time. Probably have short legs too.’
More of the alpaca came over, and Victor greeted them all. ‘Morning Daisy, Dorothy, Kitty.’ And then they followed him to the stables, Pied Piper style, because, as he pointed out to Zoe,they all knew where he kept the treats, locked up so they couldn’t break in and take them all while he wasn’t there.
