Page 72 of Christmas for the Village Midwife
‘Doesn’t mean she doesn’t want to. We all know Em’s conscience is better than that – better than mine would be. I’d have thrown us out, if I was her.’
‘I’m glad you’re not. I’m glad you’ve told me. I meant what I said: it comes from a place of friendship first, but it does also help me to care for you as your midwife. I need to be aware of anything that might affect your pregnancy or life after the baby is born.’
‘So you can call social services to come and visit?’ Georgia asked, and Zoe was stung by the sudden accusation in her tone.
‘I’d never do that to you.’
‘Wouldn’t you? You’re telling me that if you thought Brett’s drinking was becoming destructive, you wouldn’t get the authorities involved? Isn’t that your professional code? What you’re meant to do? Why would it be any different for us than anyone else?’
‘Has it got that bad?’
‘I don’t know. How bad is that bad?’
‘He hasn’t…he hasn’t got overly angry? Made you fearful?’
‘You mean has he hit me? No, he’d never do that. I don’t know what’s going on with him, but I know that much. Brett’s a gentle, respectful man, whatever else he is. You don’t need to worry whether I’m safe with him.’
Zoe nodded slowly. It was reassuring to hear, but she wished she could share Georgia’s utter faith in her husband. She was no expert, but she’d visited families where there were addiction problems of all sorts, and the one thing she’d found in every case was that nothing was as simple and predicable as Georgia wanted to believe. A loving, caring parent or spouse could do shocking and uncharacteristic things under the influence. ‘Georgia…’ she said after a long pause. ‘Do you think he’s an alcoholic?’
‘I’d have thought that you of all people wouldn’t use that term for it.’
‘But do you think he’s dependent on it?’
‘No,’ Georgia said firmly. ‘I think it’s helping to numb things – that’s why he’s turning to it, but I think he could quit. Right now he just needs a reason to.’
‘And you don’t think your baby is a reason?’
‘The baby’s not here yet. It’s hard to imagine what life will be like when it is. He’ll come round then.’
‘You’re sure?’
‘He wants this baby more than anything – we both do. I’m sure. In the meantime, whatever he needs to cope, he can have.’
‘Sounds like burying your head in the sand to me. He might be able to quit drinking when the time comes, but the more he does it to excess, the bigger danger there is he’ll cross the line to a place where he can’t quit.’
Georgia held her in a frank gaze. ‘Seems like you know everything. So you’re an expert on addiction now?’
‘Don’t…I’m not trying to patronise; I want to help. Surely Emilia’s said the same to you?’
‘Like I said, Em’s got her own things going on. I’m sure if she could click her fingers and have us out of her life, she would.’
Zoe shook her head as she glanced at the clock. Regardless of whether she felt their conversation had achieved anything, she’d have to cut it short if she was going to get around to seeing the rest of her list. ‘Thanks for coming,’ she said. ‘I’m sorry I got you here on false pretences. You understand why, don’t you?’
‘Yes. I might have done the same. Has it helped?’
‘Helped me? I suppose so, but that wasn’t the point. Has it helped you?’
‘Well, nothing has changed. I still have no money, no house, a room with my sister, a big pregnant belly and a husband who spends his time hating the world. So I don’t really know if it’s helped.’
‘At least you can talk to me now if you need to.’
‘Super,’ Georgia said wryly as she got her coat on. ‘I can talk to you. So that’s everything fixed then, isn’t it?’
22
Victor was running late. Lavender had just locked up the surgery, and everyone had left apart from Zoe, who was still waiting. Worrying too. Victor didn’t have a mobile phone, of course, so there was no way to get hold of him, and she didn’t want to call the landline at Daffodil Farm just yet, for fear of worrying Corrine if there was no need. So she leaned against the porch of the locked-up surgery and huddled in her heavy coat as she waited, scrolling through social media on her phone and occasionally looking up to check the sky. There was more snow in the forecast – though she didn’t know how that was even possible.
‘Hiya!’
