Page 113 of The Village Midwife
‘He’d only deny it if I spoke to him.’
‘I’d scare him. Ask him if he did it and then go along with his answer, and lay it on thick that, because Alex’s car was out of action, something really bad happened up there.’
‘I couldn’t do that.’
‘Or tell him Alex is getting the police involved. Or setting up cameras or something.’
‘I do need to talk to him,’ Zoe said, wishing it weren’t true. ‘I’ve got to persuade him that he needs to be a grown-up about all this.’
Even as she tried to forget it, back in her room as she prepared for the first appointment of the day, her mind was constantly pulled back to Flo’s report. The more she thought about it, the more she was convinced that Ritchie was responsible for the damage to Alex’s tyres. She hated to admit it, but it was exactly the sort of thing he’d do.
To think she’d once loved him. Whatever affection she’d still had, even after their split, was fast draining away, and it was mostly down to his recent actions. Perhaps it was better to confront him. He’d deny it, of course, but he’d know she was on to him, and perhaps that would be enough to make him think twice the next time he felt like causing mischief.
She checked the clock. She had a couple of minutes until her first mum. And so she sent him a text.
I know what you’re up to, and it’s out of order. Stop it.
And then she put her phone into the desk drawer and left it at that.
She didn’t check her phone again until lunchtime. As predicted, there was a reply from Ritchie denying everything. There was also a text message from Alex, updating her on Billie’s progress, though Zoe already knew about that because she’d spoken to a member of the hospital team during a gap in her clinic. It was hard to read emotions from the words of a brief text, but he seemed much happier. Things were going well and they hoped to have her home the following day. She sent him a reply saying she was glad and that she’d visit Billie as soon as she was back at Hilltop. Then she cleared down and made her way to the kitchen to join the rest of the surgery staff for their communal lunch.
‘Well?’ Ottilie asked as Zoe sat next to her. ‘Any developments?’
‘You mean Ritchie?’
Lavender turned from the worktop where she was slicing bread. ‘Your ex? Has something happened? Is this to do with him turning up at the quincentenary? Are you back together? What happened after you went home?’
‘Steady on, Lavender,’ Fliss said mildly as she ladled out chicken stew. ‘I’m sure if Zoe has something to tell us, she’ll tell us.’ She turned to Zoe. ‘You’d better tell us, or she’ll blow a fuse!’
Zoe couldn’t help but laugh. ‘There’s nothing to tell. I’ve come to the conclusion that it will be a cold day in hell before we get back together, so that’s something. Other than that, nothing much.’
‘How disappointing,’ Fliss huffed and went back to serving up.
‘I don’t know how you’re going to cope with retirement,’ Simon said. He handed a glass of water to Zoe and Ottilie in turn. ‘You’ll die of boredom without a dose of daily drama in here.’
‘I’ll cope – you watch me. Anyway, I’m expecting detailed reports. Don’t forget, I’ll still have sway around here, even if I’ve finished working. If I don’t get my fix, I’ll get you all fired.’
‘How’s Billie?’ Ottilie asked as the rest of them continued to banter about the probabilities of Fliss retaining enough influence once she’d retired to get them all sacked.
‘Good. The bed rest is doing the trick. I knew it would.’
‘Did you?’ Ottilie raised her eyebrows, and Zoe smiled.
‘I hoped so. We all get a confidence knock once in a while, don’t we? I hope Tegan Forrester will be the only one for this year because one is more than enough. Though I can’t help thinking that I almost missed Billie as well. It was only when Alex told me he’d feel better if we took her in that I saw the blood…’
‘You’d have caught it one way or another,’ Ottilie said. ‘If I know anything about you, I know that. And you did take her in, and all’s well.’
‘I suppose so,’ Zoe said quietly. ‘I suppose so.’
After three days in hospital, during which time Zoe had received regular updates, Billie was allowed home. Corrine called at Kestrel Cottage that evening with two casserole dishes in a covered basket and a tin of cake.
‘I made you some stew,’ she said, handing one of the dishes to Zoe. It was still warm.
‘Smells lovely, thank you.’
‘Steak with a drop of Guinness. I made some for Billie and Alex too. Billie will be able to eat it, won’t she? There’s not much Guinness in there.’
‘I’m sure it’ll be fine. They’ll be glad of the help – I bet they don’t feel like cooking after the few days they’ve had.’
