Page 97 of The Village Midwife
‘Ott, I don’t want to—’ Zoe began, but Ottilie put a hand up and then launched into a summary of the whole sorry encounter.
In a few short seconds, Fliss had caught the gist of it and slammed down her cider. ‘Where is she?’
‘Fliss…’ Simon said steadily. ‘You can’t tackle her.’
‘Can’t I?’
‘No, not here. I know you’re angry – I don’t like it any more than you do – but there’s a right way to do this. If we don’t follow protocol, we’ll end up on a disciplinary too.’
‘Zoe’s not going to end up on a disciplinary!’ Fliss raged. ‘She didn’t do anything wrong! I won’t have my colleagues being spoken to in that manner!’
‘I’d really rather forget it,’ Zoe said in such a small voice that nobody seemed to hear it.
‘Bridget Jenkins doesn’t have a leg to stand on!’ Fliss continued. ‘She wouldn’t dare start anything with me because she knows I could have her?—’
‘Fliss…’ Simon warned, glancing around to see who was listening. ‘You can’t say stuff like that.’
‘I can say what I bloody well like! And if Bridget Jenkins doesn’t like what I have to say, she can jolly well get herself a new GP!’
‘You’re retiring, remember? You don’t want to get into a battle with a patient at this stage, surely.’
Zoe rubbed at her temples and closed her eyes. While she appreciated the support, she just wanted to forget about the whole incident. ‘I think I’ll go home. I’ve got a headache coming.’
‘Zoe…’ Ottilie’s voice was gentler now. ‘Are you all right? Do you want me to come with you? I can get Heath to drive?—’
‘No, thanks; there’s no point in making you leave the party. I’ll be fine.’
‘But—’
‘Please, Ott, I’d rather go. I’ll have a lie-down, and I’ll be better in an hour or two.’
Ottilie looked unconvinced but she nodded. ‘You’re sure you’re all right? I know you spoke to Tegan earlier too…Seems like it’s ended up being a tough day.’
Ottilie didn’t know the half of it, and Zoe wished she had the strength to tell her, but it would have to wait.
26
As she made her way through the crowds, it took every ounce of fortitude she had not to start crying. It wasn’t like her to react like this – Ottilie had that right. But it wasn’t every day that she managed to make almost everyone she knew angry in some way. She’d been forced to stop and exchange pleasantries with villagers on her way out, and it had been torture. She’d just heaved a sigh of relief on having made it to the end when she felt a hand on her shoulder and turned around to see Ritchie there.
‘What…?’ Her mouth dropped open, and he grinned.
‘Surprise!’
‘What are you doing here?’
‘Can’t I visit? I thought we were OK with that.’
‘Of course,’ Zoe said. She’d meant to set some boundaries about him visiting when they’d last talked, and for some reason she hadn’t. Now she was very much wishing she had. ‘It’s justhere…I didn’t expect to find you at this. How did you even know?’
‘Facebook. I follow the village news page. It’s not that hard.’
Of course he followed Thimblebury’s Facebook page. Why wouldn’t he? Zoe held in a groan. As if her day wasn’t complicated enough. But then she noticed him studying her.
‘You’re upset,’ he said.
‘I’m fine.’
‘Don’t give me that. You think I don’t know you well enough by now to see when you’ve been crying? What’s wrong?’
