Page 106 of Christmas for the Village Midwife
‘I suppose you’ve earned that much, being such a star tonight. Last Christmas, Todd was having an affair. I’d known about it for a few weeks, but I didn’t say anything. I wanted him to at least have enough respect for me to come clean. I waited. He lied all through Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, Boxing Day…and then it got to New Year and I knew he wasn’t going to tell me. When I finally confronted him, you know what he said?’
Zoe shook her head.
‘Told me it was my fault. I didn’t pay him enough attention. I was always at work. I put everyone else before him. I was possessive and distrustful, and I had no right to spy on him, and that I shouldn’t have lied to him about not knowing. Can you imagine that?’
‘Wow,’ Zoe said. ‘No wonder you’re not a fan.’
‘Perhaps,’ Emilia said, her gaze going to Georgia and Brett with their baby, ‘I might like it better next year. I’ve certainly made some new Christmas memories.’
‘We all have,’ Zoe said with a tired smile. ‘We won’t forget this one in a hurry.’
‘You must be exhausted,’ Emilia said.
‘A bit, but I’m too wired to sleep at the moment. Give me an hour and I’m sure I’ll get there.’
They both looked up as Brett came over with the baby in his arms. ‘Georgia’s going to sleep,’ he said, gazing down at his son with such love that Zoe was almost overwhelmed to see it. ‘I said I’d take care of him while she gets her rest.’
‘We can make him a little bed,’ Emilia said. ‘You must be tired too.’
He shook his head. ‘I’m not tired. I said I’d watch him while she slept, and I will. If she can’t trust me now, she’s never going to, and I want…well, I want her to have faith in me again. I haven’t given her much reason to over the past few months.’
‘She loves you,’ Zoe said. ‘That much is obvious.’
‘I love her too. I’ve been blinded by…’ He let out a sigh. ‘I’ve been selfish, too wrapped up in how our change of fortunes have affected me and not thinking about how they might be affecting her. We both made sacrifices, but to me she’d fallen on her feet because at least she was living with her sister, but…Sorry, Em. I’ve been an absolute nightmare, haven’t I?’
‘Yes,’ Emilia said. ‘But new year, new start, eh?’
‘That’s the intention,’ he said. ‘I’m going to swallow my pride, get some work and support this family. It doesn’t matter what the work is as long as I do my best to look after them.’
‘Good,’ Emilia said. ‘I’ll help, if I can.Ifyou let me this time.’
He gave a sheepish smile, and then all three of them were distracted by Alex and the vicar coming out of the store room with more bedding.
‘Right,’ he said. ‘Who needs a bed, and where do you want to hunker down?’
‘I’m staying up for a while,’ Brett said then looked at Emilia. ‘You could go home.’
‘You could,’ Zoe agreed. ‘There’s no reason for you to stay, you could probably make it back, and you’re not far away if we do need you for anything, though I doubt we will. It’ll be nice to be in your own bed, and you look like you need some peace and quiet.’
‘It would be nice,’ Emilia agreed.
‘I could walk you home,’ Alex said.
‘There’s no need,’ Emilia began, but Zoe stopped her.
‘Let him. We’d all be happier knowing you’re home safe.’
‘OK,’ Emilia said. ‘I’ll call early in the morning to see how things are.’
‘I’m sure you will,’ Zoe said. She gave Emilia a quick hug, one that her friend’s older sister seemed taken aback by, and then offered Alex a brief, grateful smile as he put down the bedding and went to get his coat, Emilia following.
Zoe noticed Billie have a brief word with her dad, and then she came to get some of the bedding.
‘Are you sure you’re going to be comfortable enough?’ Zoe asked. ‘Because I’m sure Emilia won’t mind you going back with her and staying over tonight.’
‘I want to stay here. I’ll be fine – there’s loads of stuff here.’ She pulled at a duvet. ‘I can make a mattress out of about three of these and then put one on top – it’ll be warm enough.’
‘I can’t say I think it’s the best idea, but I can hardly tell you what to do,’ Zoe said.
