Page 48 of Christmas for the Village Midwife
‘It’slovely,’ the WI woman said. ‘Very sweet.’
‘Traditional but well executed,’ the other said.
The chef abandoned his pretend distraction and rejoined them, reaching to take a section of the garden wall. ‘May I?’ he asked Billie.
She nodded, and he bit into it.
‘Delicious,’ he said, and Billie’s face transformed.
‘Really?’ she asked, beaming.
‘Very nice. Caramel, if I’m not mistaken?’
‘Yes.’
The other judges followed his lead, and they both agreed with him.
‘Congratulations!’ the WI lady said. ‘That’s the best bit of gingerbread I’ve had in a while.’
Billie smiled but then shot a look that was half apology, half embarrassment at Corrine, who simply returned it with a reassuring wink.
‘Didn’t I say you had natural talent?’ she said in a low voice as the judges made notes.
Billie was glowing. Zoe only wished Alex could be here to see it, but she couldn’t wait to report everything to him later. Evenbetter, there was a chance Billie might actually win this. It was obvious the judges had been impressed by her efforts.
There were only a few more people to see, and then there was a pub-style quiz where anyone could take part with a prize of dinner at a pub outside the village, followed by a raffle where various bits and pieces of Christmas fare could be won, and then refreshments, and after that the judges were ready to announce their winner.
‘In third place…’
The hush in the room was heavy and crackling with anticipation. Everyone said they had no care for the result or how well they did, but Zoe would bet a lot of those people were either lying to themselves or to the other contestants.
‘In third place is Corrine!’
There was a frisson of shock, a polite round of applause and then new excitement as the implications of this bombshell hit everyone else at the same time. Corrine smiled graciously around before sitting down, and Zoe could have sworn she looked pleased about her loss. She’d won this thing for years, after all, and everyone had expected her to do it again.
‘And in second place…’
There was another pause, the room almost feverish this time.
‘Billie…Fitzgerald? The handwriting’s a bit wonky, but I think that’s right…’
Billie let out a squeal of shock, and Corrine leaped from her chair to hug her as everyone clapped.
‘Did they say my name?’
‘They did!’ Zoe said, hugging her after Corrine let go.
‘Are you sure?’ Billie asked.
Corrine laughed. ‘Yes! They did!’
And then the applause died down and the smiling faces were turned expectantly on the judges again, and then Magnus let out a yelp as they named him the winner. Geoff grabbed himand kissed him with such passion Stacey yelled, ‘Get a room!’ and then everyone started to laugh, clapping even harder this time, and Magnus, weeping as if he’d won an Oscar, went to get his prize, which was a hefty wooden spoon, decorated with a gingham bow and the year and details of the contest burned into it. Holding it aloft, he beamed around the room.
‘Well, there’s a turn-up for the books!’ Zoe heard someone nearby say, and when she glanced at Corrine, she could see that her neighbour wasn’t a bit bothered by the fact she hadn’t won the prize that everyone assumed was hers for the taking. Something had changed between Corrine arriving and now. In fact, Zoe had to conclude that Corrine, for reasons of her own, hadn’t wanted to win. Even if it were true, she’d never admit as much because Zoe also realised that it would take the shine off Billie’s success, and Corrine would never do that.
‘It’s only a silly competition,’ Billie said as they packed up, although her face was still pink with pleasure. ‘It’s nice to come second, but you don’t need to phone Dad about it.’
‘He’ll be dead proud!’ Zoe said, nudging her with affection. ‘He’ll want to know.’
