Page 6 of Christmas for the Village Midwife
‘Not weeks, only a few days. The suppliers are struggling. It’s the snow, I expect, having an effect on everything.’
‘Oh!’ Flo threw her hands into the air. ‘Another thing ruined by this blasted snow! So when are you going to get it in?’
‘We’re doing our best,’ Magnus said. ‘As soon as we get some, I’ll let you know.’
Flo frowned. ‘I’m sure I don’t know what I’m going to put on my crackers for tea.’
‘We’ve got some nice smoked cheddar,’ Magnus began, but Flo was already on her way to the door.
‘I’ll come back later to see if it’s arrived…’
As the door slammed shut and Flo walked a cleared path, huffing as she went, Magnus turned to Zoe. ‘What can I get for you, my love?’
‘I want my apple cheese too!’ She pretended to flounce out, and Magnus burst into laughter.
‘Actually,’ Zoe said with a grin, ‘I need some waterproof plasters – I don’t suppose you have any? I’ve looked at the first aid shelf, but I can’t see them – probably right in front of my face, but…’
She followed Magnus to an area that held a scant and basic stock of first aid, and her grin spread as he put his hand straight onto a box. ‘I said they would be,’ she offered in an apologetic tone. ‘Sometimes I worry about myself.’
‘Some days are just like that,’ Magnus said. ‘Will these be all right for you?’
‘Perfect.’
‘Did you cut yourself?’
‘Oh, Alex did yesterday trying to show me how manly he is by wrangling a Christmas tree into a car. The tree came out best. I had to use the last plaster I had in my handbag on him and I thought it might be a good idea to get a replacement box in case he had more manly ideas.’
‘Yes, manly ideas often lead to trouble.’ Magnus smiled. ‘Anything else?’
‘Have you got any ground ginger?’
‘That I can’t help with, I’m afraid – we sold out yesterday. I take it you’re thinking of entering something into the gingerbread house contest?’
‘Me and everyone else in Thimblebury, apparently.’
‘Every Christmas it’s the same. Everyone wants to beat Corrine, of course, but they never do. Perhaps you’ll be the lucky one.’
‘I doubt that – have you even met Corrine? I think that woman was born with oven gloves on her hands. I’ll have a go, but it’s just for fun, really – an excuse to join in, you know? To tell you the truth, Alex and I have been talking about how we ought to make more of an effort to be a part of the community, and this seemed like a good place to start.’
‘There’s always plenty going on at Christmas that brings people together, that’s for sure. And you’ve got lots of time for the competition.’
‘Oh, I know, but I wanted to do a couple of practice runs beforehand.’
‘You and everyone else…that’s why the ginger is sold out.’ He cocked an eyebrow. ‘So you do want to win? Just a little?’
‘Maybe a little,’ Zoe said, laughing. ‘I can’t help it.’
‘We all want to win a little,’ Magnus agreed. ‘If only to go down in Thimblebury’s history as the person who finally broke Corrine’s run.’
‘You’re going to bake something?’
‘Naturally. I do something every year; Geoff too. We usually have some of them on display in the shop afterwards.’
‘I’m looking forward to seeing them. So you don’t know when you’ll have the ginger in? If there are supply issues, I mean.’
‘Different suppliers than Flo’s cheese, my love. Geoff’s at the wholesalers now; we should have it when he gets back.’
‘Brilliant! If I pay you now, will you put some aside for me? I’ll pick it up when I next come down to the village.’
