Page 27 of The Village Midwife
‘I’m going through a divorce,’ she said. ‘It’s all perfectly civil, and we’re still friends. I mean, I’d prefer if it hadn’t come to this, but it did and we’re dealing with it. That’s part of the reason I chose to take this job. It seemed like a clean break, a fresh start, you know?’
Opening up about the divorce was one thing, but the baby she’d lost…Zoe decided there was no need to relive that particular pain, and so she kept that factor in the end of her marriage to herself for now.
‘I’m sorry to hear that, but if it’s amicable and it’s what you both want then…I don’t know. Am I supposed to say I’m pleased for you? Or is it still a bad thing? I’ve never been through one, so I don’t know. Do you have children?’ He looked around the kitchen, as if he expected to find a clue to the answer there.
‘No children,’ Zoe said with all the strength she could muster to keep her tone even. ‘It’s all nice and clean…if there can ever be such a thing where divorce is concerned.’
‘I see.’
‘You’ve just got Billie?’
‘Yes.’
‘You’re close? I mean, it seems so. To me.’
The look in his eyes softened. Zoe couldn’t help but dwell on them for a moment – they really were the warmest, gentlest shade of brown, and when he allowed himself to relax, they became deep wells of open generosity. ‘I suppose we are. How was she? When you saw her today?’
‘You haven’t seen her yourself today?’
‘I meant her pregnancy. It’s all as it ought to be?’
‘Oh.’ Zoe smiled as she sat down. ‘I see. I’m sure she won’t mind me telling you everything is as it ought to be. I can’t say anything more than that, of course.’
‘Of course. Thanks for telling me what you could.’
She could see how much her brief reassurance had meant to him by the way the tension visibly drained from his expression.
‘Are you planning to farm?’ she asked. ‘I mean, that’s what Ann and her husband did with the land at Hilltop. I don’t think she did so much after he died; I understand she struggled to run it on her own.’
‘Actually, no,’ he said, taking a sip of his coffee. ‘I’m planning to build pods.’
‘Pods?’
‘You know, camping pods. Glamping, really.’
‘Holiday lets? I didn’t realise. Are you building them yourself? Are they difficult to put up? I have no clue how these things work, but I’m sure you’ll have no trouble renting them out when they’re ready.’
‘It’s early days yet. That’s the plan. As for the logistics, I’m just working those out. I’ve got some money put aside from the sale of the holiday villa I had in Spain and a bit of inheritance, so I’ll manage until it’s all up and running. In reality, I don’t expect to start making anything for the next six months or so. Who’s going to want to stay in a pod on a hillside in the British winter, even if they were ready to go?’
‘Not me, that’s for sure,’ Zoe agreed. ‘It sounds like a great idea for summer, though.’
He peered at her, something like curiosity on his face now. ‘You’re not worried that it’ll shatter your peace? Having people coming back and forth to stay?’
‘You forget, I’ve lived in Manchester my whole life. It would take a lot more than a few tourists to be worse than some of the house parties I’ve had going on next door to me over the years. What makes you worry about that? Has someone complained already?’
‘You’re the first person I’ve told, but I’ve been warned by a friend who did something similar to be ready for local opposition, especially in a small place like this. People tend to be wary of change.’
‘I don’t expect it’ll be all that bad. Victor already has a business geared up for tourists.’
‘Oh? What’s that?’
‘Alpaca trekking. He takes big parties out over the fields all summer. Does well out of it, I think.’
He nodded slowly, as if digesting the information. ‘That’s worth knowing. I’m sure we could be good for one another.’
‘I’m sure he’d agree. He seems like a nice, reasonable guy. You should go over and chat to him.’
‘I will, thanks.’
