Page 42 of The Village Midwife
As Alex turned his attention to the tea he’d promised them a good half hour before, she peeked at her phone. Since she’d checked it before, a new notification had arrived – this time a missed call from Tegan Forester.
Zoe frowned and got up. ‘I’m sorry, I have to make a quick call. Do you mind if I take it outside? It’s one of my mums…’
Alex nodded and began to chat to Corrine while Zoe hurried out. But there was no reply when she returned Tegan’s call, and so she phoned Ottilie instead.
‘Hey, I know what you’re going to say, that I’m paranoid and that I should switch off when I’m not on duty – and you’re absolutely right – but I need an emergency contact, and it’s in my address book at the surgery. I don’t suppose you have a key to get in?’
‘What’s wrong?’
‘I have a missed call from Tegan Forester.’
‘Oh, she’s the worrier, isn’t she?’
‘Yes, but the last time I saw her I was worried about her blood pressure, so…’
‘Right. Well, I don’t have a key, but Lavender does. Do you want her number?’
‘I have it, I think. I’ll phone her. She’s going to kill me if I ask her to go and open up, isn’t she?’
‘I don’t imagine she’ll be thrilled, but if you explain, I’m sure she’ll understand. There’s always Fliss or Simon, if you’d rather. They’ve both got keys too.’
‘I think Fliss would be scarier than Lavender.’
‘Probably. Simon would come if you asked him – he’s good like that.’
Zoe paused for a moment, considering her options. ‘Simon, yes, I’ll call him. Thanks, Ottilie.’
‘Phone if you need me – I’m not doing anything.’
‘I will, thanks.’
Zoe had no intentions of phoning Ottilie or anyone else if she could sort this herself. She needn’t even drag Simon out if she could go to his house and get the key to open up the surgery herself. She scrolled her contacts and then dialled his number. He answered within three rings, a note of puzzlement in his voice.
‘Hello, Zoe. Everything all right?’
‘I’m so sorry to phone you out of hours, but I need a favour. Could you let me into the surgery? I need an emergency contact from my office.’
‘Are you on call?’
‘No, but…Please. It would put my mind at rest if I could see that this lady is all right.’
‘Of course; I understand. I can meet you at the surgery in ten minutes.’
‘I’m up at Hilltop, so could you make it twenty?’
‘Sure, I’ll see you then.’
Zoe dashed back in. ‘I’m so sorry, but I have to go.’
Corrine spun to face her. ‘Is everything all right?’
‘Yes, I need to go into the surgery to check on something and it won’t wait.’
‘Now?’ Alex asked.
Zoe nodded.
‘You’re going to walk down there in the dark?’
