Page 28 of Christmas for the Village Midwife
‘Yes, I do…but it doesn’t matter anyway, does it? I think most children grow into their names, however they sound to you at first. As they get older, you realise you couldn’t imagine them being called anything else.’
‘I know what you mean. So if I let Brett have his way, it might not be so bad – I might get to like them eventually?’
‘What’s he got?’
‘What hasn’t he got? He comes up with new attempts to win me over all the time, and each one is worse than the last! We got to Russell and Tina and I stopped listening.’
‘I suppose they’re quite old names – not very on trend – but they’re not that bad, are they?’
‘Really?’
Zoe grinned. ‘OK, I’m not sure I’d choose them.’
‘And do you remember Russell Stone from school?’
‘Oh, I do! No wonder it has bad connections for you! BO that could take your eyebrows off and a stinky personality to match! So that’s your reason for hating the name?’
‘Does there have to be another? I don’t want to think about rancid soup every time I call my kid in for tea.’
Zoe burst out laughing. ‘You’re still funny! So you could live with Tina? Or is there a Tina in your background doing the same job as Russell Stone? I don’t think we had a Tina in our class, did we?’
‘No, but I’ll just be thinking about Tina Turner all the time.’
Zoe was smiling as she shook her head with wonder. ‘Look at us – picking up like we never left off. I can’t believe we ever fell out.’
‘It was stupid, wasn’t it? For what it’s worth, I’m sorry we did. I missed out on a lot of years of fun.’
‘Me too, though we were set to go to different high schools. We’d probably have lost touch anyway.’
‘Probably. I’m glad we’ve run into one another again.’
‘So am I. It’s really good to see you.’
‘So you’re settling into village life?’
‘Very much so,’ said Zoe. ‘I never saw myself living somewhere like this, but now I’m here, I love it. I never say for ever, but I don’t think I’d be too upset if it was.’
‘It seems friendly.’
‘It’s very friendly. I sometimes wonder if it’s a bit too friendly at times.’ She raised her eyebrows, and Georgia laughed.
‘I expect I’ll find that out for myself if the shop is anything to go by. But everyone has been lovely to me so far.’
‘They are, and they’ll help anyone with anything. It’s a good community.’
‘So you rent your place? I mean, you haven’t bought it?’
‘From Victor and Corrine who own the farmland it’s on. They’re the best – it’s like having my mum and dad on the doorstep. And, of course, I have Alex on the neighbouring farm, which is lovely.’
‘I bet. So how long have you been seeing him?’
‘Not long at all – weeks. It was a rocky start, but it’s brilliant now. I have a good feeling about it.’
‘True love?’ Georgia said with a waggle of her eyebrows. ‘Or true lust?’
‘It’s too early to tell yet. I mean, absolutely true lust. As for the love…I’m hopeful. What about you and Brett?’
‘We have our moments, but yes, I’m happy. Things haven’t always been plain sailing, but, like you said, that’s just the way of things, isn’t it?’
