Page 19 of The Village Midwife
Zoe put her hand up, but the man didn’t respond. Either he didn’t remember their meeting like she did, or he was preoccupied with the drive up to the farm. Knowing how difficult that road could be, Zoe could hardly blame him.
Later, perhaps, she’d make a point of calling in to say hello. She’d already said hello to…Alex, wasn’t it? Yes, that was it. How could his name have slipped her mind for a moment? He’d made an impression on her that had lasted for a couple of days after their first meeting, though the face she’d just seen through the windscreen of the van was a far cry from the relaxed charm of his expression that day. Today he looked… harassed. Yes, that was the word. Not stressed, exactly, or worried, but like someone who was managing, but only just.
‘I hear you’ve got new neighbours.’
Zoe put three packs of biscuits onto the counter. It was her turn to buy for break time at the surgery. Magnus rang them up while she looked for her purse.
‘What’s that?’ she asked, glancing up.
‘Someone’s moved in at Hilltop, haven’t they? Flo saw the van this morning.’
‘I’m sure she did,’ Zoe replied.
‘Yes, she’s a one-woman neighbourhood watch,’ Magnus replied with a grin, saying what Zoe still felt too much of a newarrival in the village to say. ‘One day, she might actually do something useful with her superhuman observation skills. Not that it’s anything to do with me, of course, but have you met the new arrivals yet?’
‘You’re right,’ Geoff shouted from a shelf he was restocking. ‘Stop being so nosy. We’ll all meet them in good time, I’m sure.’
‘Sort of,’ Zoe said, noting Magnus frown at his husband. The furrows in his brow disappeared as he returned his full attention to her. ‘I’ve met the man in any case. He seems nice enough.’
‘A nice family, I expect,’ Magnus said. ‘I hope so. Hilltop needs a nice family living there. It’s not the same without Ann and Darryl.’
‘You hardly said two words to them of a week!’ Geoff cut in, and this time Magnus rose to the bait.
‘How do you know? How do you know who I talk to when you’re not around? Are we joined at the hip?’
‘Practically,’ Geoff said, in such a dry tone that it took all Zoe’s effort not to laugh out loud.
‘Well,’ she replied in an effort to soothe Magnus’s ire, ‘as soon as I know something I’ll report in. Unless you meet them first, of course, and then you can tell me all about it.’
‘Have no fear,’ Geoff said. ‘He’ll do that all right.’
‘You’re giving Zoe a very bad impression of me!’ Magnus huffed.
‘You’re doing that without my help,’ Geoff shot back.
‘No you’re not,’ Zoe said, unable to hold back a broad smile. ‘We’re all curious, and it’s only natural for villagers who’ve lived here a long time to want to know what sort of people are moving in. I mean, first there was me, and now, only a few weeks later, there’s someone else. I suppose it makes a big impact in a little village like this.’
‘Exactly,’ Magnus said, seemingly soothed, exactly as Zoe had hoped he would be. ‘One new person arrives and everything changes.’
‘For what it’s worth, I have no plans to tip anyone’s apple cart up. I’m going to be very quiet in my little cottage on the hill. The most trouble I’ll be is when I don’t have the right change for some biscuits.’
‘I’m sure…’ Magnus blushed. ‘We don’t have a problem with newcomers, you know. We only mean?—’
‘Magnus,’ Geoff said. ‘Put the shovel down – you’re only digging deeper every time you open your mouth. Zoe,what he’s trying to say is sorry if it appears we’re a couple of outrageous gossips, and sorry if we’re coming across as judgy.’
‘I’ve never thought that.’ Zoe collected the biscuit packets into her arms. ‘I think you’re both lovely.’
Magnus beamed.
Geoff turned back to his stock with a broad smile of his own. ‘The feeling’s mutual. Have a good day.’
‘You too.’ Zoe headed for the door.
No sooner had she emerged onto the street than she heard Flo’s voice. She turned to see the old woman charging towards her at a speed that didn’t seem possible for someone of her age. ‘Morning!’
‘Have you met your new neighbours yet?’ Flo asked breathlessly. ‘They’ve moved in, haven’t they? I saw a van!’
‘I’ve seen the van too, but I was on my way down the hill, so no, I haven’t had a chance to call in yet.’ Zoe gave a patient smile and decided not to divulge that she’d met Alex a few weeks before anyone had known he’d be moving in. It would demand more information from Zoe than she had time to give, and even if she had time, she wasn’t sure Flo was the best person to share it with.
