Page 73 of The Village Midwife
‘You do,’ Zoe said, offering him a warm smile that he didn’t return. The memory of his face as she’d tossed his flowers to one side came back to her, and she felt as awkward as he seemed to be. He was annoyed by it. Offended. Hurt.
‘There you go.’ Magnus pushed a bag across the counter at Zoe. ‘By the way, there’s a film club on Thursday. You’re more than welcome to join us. We’re watchingWicked– have you seen it? If not, it’ll be worth coming down for. It’s ever so good. We have food and drinks afterwards’ – he wafted his arm towards the rear of the shop – ‘in our private cinema. It’s a good night. If you’ve got nothing else to do, of course…’
‘I’m not sure if I’m free yet, but I’ll keep it in mind, thank you.’
Magnus looked as if he didn’t believe her, but then he turned to where Alex was pulling a bottle of milk from the fridge. ‘You’re welcome too, of course,’ he said.
‘Sorry?’ Alex turned with a vague look.
‘Film night on Thursday. We’re going to watchWicked.’
‘Oh, I don’t think so; it’s not really my sort of thing…’ Alex glanced at Zoe. ‘Billie might want to come down. She might if you were there.’
Zoe couldn’t imagine Billie wanting to go to Magnus and Geoff’s film club, even if she were to go, but she simply nodded. ‘If she wants to, tell her to message me and I’ll go with her.’
‘Thanks,’ Alex said, but although his words expressed gratitude, he still seemed off.
Zoe picked up her bag. ‘I’d better go.’
‘Have a good day!’ Magnus called after as she left the shop, though afterwards she couldn’t say whether she’d replied or not. Her mind was full of Alex and how angry she was at herself for being the cause of that look on his face. She couldn’t exactly name it; she only knew it made her feel bad.
The last appointment of Zoe’s morning clinic was Petra, who waddled into her room with such effort that Zoe promptly decided she’d make a home visit for the next one.
‘Seven months and look at the size of me!’ Petra grumbled as she dropped into a seat. ‘People keep asking me if I have my bags packed for the hospital. I tell them I’ve got two months yet and they’re in shock. I’d be in shock too.’
‘You are having twins,’ Zoe said with a smile. ‘Do you tell them that bit?’
‘Of course, but I’m still massive even with twins, aren’t I?’
‘I’m sorry to break it to you, but I think you’re about right. You’re quite tall, and you said your husband is tall too, so I expect your babies will be a good size. Which isn’t a bad thing, considering they’re twins, because the last thing we want is for one or both of them to be underweight. Now then, let me have a look at you. Apart from feeling massive, how are you doing?’
Petra launched into a litany of complaints from swollen feet to constant overheating to the smell of melted chocolate making her feel sick to how she was going to cope when the twins arrived because she already had a toddler at home, while Zoe took measurements and made notes. Despite the outward appearance of health, Petra was one of Zoe’s worries. Twins were often complicated, and those challenges sometimes cropped up in unexpected ways. She was relieved to see that, on this occasion, all seemed to be progressing as it ought to.
‘Who’s looking after your other little one today?’ Zoe asked as she took Petra’s sample bottle from her.
‘Jason. He’s got the day off. Good thing too because that little monster’s into everything at the moment. She’s like the Tasmanian devil – if I’d brought her with me, you’d have had nothing left that wasn’t broken. And she keeps slapping my belly. It’s like she knows what’s in there and she’s not happy about it.’
‘I’m sure she’ll be made up when her sisters arrive.’
‘I’m glad it’s more girls so I don’t have to buy a load more clothes. I saved Isabel’s just in case. Jason said it was taking up too much room in the loft, but I think he was secretly hoping for a boy and he didn’t want to tempt fate by saving girls’ stuff.’
‘It’s always a good move if you’re planning to have more,’ Zoe agreed. ‘I’m sure Jason is happy whatever you have.’
‘He’s all right now. He says if we have two more, he can start a girls five-a-side team.’
‘Next time I see you, I’ll come to the house,’ Zoe said. ‘Save you the journey out here. Will that be better? I can say hello to Isabel at the same time.’
‘Next time you see me, I don’t think I’ll be able to walk under all this weight so a home visit would be great.’
Petra pushed herself out of the chair, and Zoe could see it was taking some effort.
‘Anything else you want to ask me before you go?’
‘Don’t think so. Unless you know a way of hurrying this all up? I’ve had just about enough of being pregnant now.’
‘I’m sorry, I’m good but not that good. I wouldn’t wish it along too much – from what you’ve said about Isabel, it sounds as if you’ll have your hands full.’
‘Ah well, it was worth a try.’
