Page 104 of Christmas for the Village Midwife
Zoe laughed lightly. ‘Give me a minute! He’s only just come out!’
‘Right, yes… sorry.’
‘You’re excited – it’s fine, I get it. You want to text everyone to let them know.’
‘Yeah.’
Georgia took the baby from Zoe and held him close. And then she looked up at Brett. ‘Are you OK?’
‘God!’ he said, tears spilling from his eyes. ‘You’re askingmethat? You’ve just had a baby!’
‘I have, haven’t I?We’vehad a baby.’
‘You did the work.’ He leaned to kiss her. ‘You’re brilliant. Amazing. I love you so much.’
‘You mean that?’
‘I’ve never meant it more. I’m so sorry for how I’ve been. I didn’t realise…seeing him now, our baby, right here…I want to be better. I’m going to be the dad he needs and the husband you need. This is it, today, me, turning over a new leaf. I’ll get a job, quit the booze and it’ll be fine, you’ll see.’
Zoe watched them. She wanted to believe him. She believed his words had come from a place of good intent, but changes were rarely that straightforward to make. She also believed, however, that his words of love were true, and if there was enough love, anyone could do anything.
‘So,’ she asked. ‘Are we still without a name?’
‘What’s the church called?’ Brett asked.
‘St Cuthbert’s.’
‘Bloody hell, we’re not calling him Cuthbert!’
Zoe laughed. ‘That’s probably for the best. Unless you’re going to send him to school in 1932. Any other ideas?’
Brett looked at Georgia, and she raised her eyebrows. ‘I suppose Miles is still out of the question?’
‘I love you but not that much.’
‘Come on now,’ Zoe said. ‘She’s done all the work. Let her have it.’
‘We’ll have a think,’ Georgia said. ‘Later. Right now, I’ll take that cup of tea if it’s going.’
31
Zoe left some final tasks to the paramedic team, who had notes to write up and a report to send back to base. Georgia hadn’t wanted to be taken to hospital, and Zoe was content, after weighing up the risks of her staying in Thimblebury against an arduous journey in an ambulance in the snow, that she’d be better off where she was. She’d stay, so she’d be on hand for any emergency, though she didn’t anticipate anything. So they left after having a quick word with her to check she was OK to manage anything that might crop up once they’d gone, and the church suddenly seemed a lot emptier without their high-vis suits and masses of equipment. In fact, as they all settled down with the hum of low conversations here and there, it was quite peaceful. Holy even, Zoe might have said, had she not been far too practical for that sort of thing.
Victor joked that the vicar ought to go and empty out the manger on the nativity display so they could put Georgia’s baby in it, but for the first time that night, the vicar looked less than affable at the suggestion. Victor seemed to consider himself told and went to sit in a corner to talk to Alex like a boy being sent to the naughty step.
While Georgia and Brett spent some time alone with their baby, Zoe sat nursing a cup of tea, watching them. Nobody had left the church to go home yet. The vicar had offered the opinion that it wasn’t safe for those who lived much further out to leave, and to a point Zoe agreed with him. The church was hardly ideal, but it was better than trying to get home in the blizzard conditions that had caused so much trouble on the way down. Not only that, but there was no way she was letting anyone take a newborn out into the snow.
Georgia seemed content in her makeshift bed, sleepy and comfortable with her baby in her arms and Brett close by, giving her so much adoring attention it was hard to believe there had ever been any conflict between them. Emilia hovered, seemingly not knowing what to do with herself. And while Georgia was here, Zoe wanted to be here too, keeping a close eye on things. Which meant Alex wanted to be here to be close to Zoe, and Billie wanted to be here to be with her dad.
After an hour of hanging around and chatting, Victor and Leon decided to go home.
‘We can take you back with us,’ Victor said to Billie and Alex.
‘Go,’ Zoe said. ‘I’ll see you tomorrow for lunch.’
‘You’re staying?’
‘I’d rather. Georgia might need me again.’
