Page 88 of The Village Midwife
It’s all right. You’re busy; I get it.
Still gutted. I hope we can do something soon.
What did that mean? It meant he wanted to see her, didn’t it? Did it mean more than just those words? He was gutted that he couldn’t see her. Clasping her phone to her chest, she went to the window. She’d wondered how she’d feel if he asked her out, and now she knew. She’d love it. She only hoped she wouldn’t have to wait too long for it to happen.
24
She was leaving for work the following morning when she heard barking. As she fastened the gate, she looked up to see Grizzle bounding towards her, Alex running after and calling him back.
‘Griz! Here, boy!’
The dog’s tail was wagging madly. Zoe was pleased to see him, but she hoped he wasn’t going to jump up at her while she was wearing her uniform. Quickly, she went back behind the gate and fastened it again, but this time to keep her in and Grizzle out.
‘Hey…’ Alex smiled at her as he grabbed his dog and put the lead on. ‘You’re off to work?’
‘Yeah. But I’m not running late or anything. In fact, I’m probably early. How are you? I see you’re getting your exercise.’
‘Can’t do anything else with this one.’ He ruffled Grizzle’s head, and the dog sat to enjoy it. ‘I’m sorry we’re busy tonight.’
‘I know. It’s not a problem; it was a last-minute thing anyway. I suppose Billie and your farm plans are taking up a lot of time.’
‘The digging too. I might be meeting the expert tonight as well now. I mean, you could come, if you’re not too tired – ofcourse you’re welcome to sit in – but Victor will be there, and it might be kind of boring. That’s not to say I don’t want you there.’
‘I wouldn’t want to get in the way. I doubt I’d get a word in anyway with Victor being there, even if I had something to say. Those finds are yours and Victor’s, nothing to do with me.’
‘But you helped to look.’
Zoe smiled. ‘Fat lot of good I was.’
‘Your hair looks nice this morning,’ he said and then seemed immediately mortified by his compliment. ‘I mean…shiny. Like you just washed it…’
Zoe grinned. ‘Thanks. I mean, yesterday was the first anniversary of my last hair wash so I thought I’d make the effort.’
‘Oh God…I’ve come to realise that I don’t know how to do this.’ He took a breath. ‘It’d be stupid to pretend I’m not over here with Grizzle for any reason other than I really wanted to see you. I’ve been thinking about it all night. And then I got up this morning and thought,What am I waiting for?Why am I putting it off? And so I’ve come to ask –and you can say no; I won’t be offended – but I wondered if you wanted to go for a drink. Not in my kitchen or talking about the baby or anything. Like a proper drink. You and me.’
It seemed he’d run out of air long before he’d finished his sentence because as he waited for her answer, he seemed to suck in his next breath with enough force to fetch tiles from her roof.
‘Yes,’ she said without hesitation, and the doubt in those huge brown eyes of his cleared.
‘Yeah? Really?’
‘Of course. I thought you’d never ask.’
‘Wow…I mean, that’s great! When are you free? Next week?’
‘Why don’t I meet you at the celebrations tomorrow? We’re both going to be there anyway…we could do something afterwards?’
‘Sounds good! Perfect! Thank you.’
‘For what?’ Zoe asked, her smile growing.
‘I don’t know…for saying yes.’
‘You’re daft,’ she said, and then he laughed.
‘Probably. In that case, thanks for saying yes even though you think I’m daft. God, I’m supposed to play it cool now, aren’t I?’
‘I like that you’re not.’
