Page 83 of Christmas for the Village Midwife
Zoe gave him a small smile and suddenly felt guilty for being so flippant on his arrival, for failing to remember that this time of the year was about so much more than Christmas to him. It would be a time to remember, to think back on past Christmases in his other life, the one he’d had before he’d met her. She’d been thrown by a random Christmas card sent by Ritchie – she couldn’t imagine what it must be like for Alex. Especially this year, the first year he wouldn’t be able to visit his wife’s grave.
‘Are you all right?’ she asked.
He frowned. ‘Why wouldn’t I be?’
‘Because this time of year…seems like it’s a time to remember things, and not always things we want to remember. I had a conversation with Emilia this afternoon, and we talked about that, and then you…Well, I just wondered, that’s all.’
‘I could say the same to you.’
‘I have been thinking about it, actually. I went into a shop and there was all this kids’ stuff, and I thought about what it might be like to buy it for my own, but…’ She gave a small shrug. ‘There’s no point in that, is there?’
He took her hand and kissed her fingers. ‘I wish I could make it so you’re never sad again.’
‘I wasn’t sad; I was just…well, I was only thinking about how things might have been. But they’re not like that, and I have this life now, and though what I lost hurts, this life is good. You help to make it good.’
‘I feel the same way. Since we met you, you’ve been so good for us, me and Billie. We think the world of you.’
‘Even Billie? I’m sure she just thinks I interfere.’
‘Oh, there’s no doubt about that.’ He laughed softly. ‘But she thinkseveryoneis interfering all the time, so don’t take it personally. She likes you, though. A lot.’
The warmth spread throughout Zoe’s whole body. ‘Really?’
He nodded. ‘We ought to go if we’re going to make it before the start.’
‘Yes, right…’ She rushed to collect the gifts she’d wrapped for her friends and neighbours, and Alex angled his head at the bag.
‘What’s all that?’
‘Presents for people I won’t see tomorrow.’
‘Oh. I haven’t done that. I mean, I haven’t got presents for anyone but you and Billie. Should I have done?’
‘I don’t think there are rules. I only got token things for people who’ve been kind to me since I moved here, but they’re not much. It’s just to say thank you, really. I can’t say I’m entirely happy with most of them, but…’
‘Oh.’
Zoe smiled. ‘Don’t look so worried. You’re not going to get chased out of the village for not buying Christmas presents for everyone!’
He held out his hand to take the bag from her. ‘I’ll carry that for you.’
‘Are you sure? I can manage?—’
‘You can watch your feet, and I’ll keep this lot safe. And…’ he added with a cheeky waggle of his eyebrows, ‘when we get to the church, I’ll hand them out and pretend I bought them.’
She laughed. ‘Ooh, you would as well! That’s ruthless!’
‘I know. What are you going to do about it?’
Zoe closed the front door behind them, and they stepped out onto the snow. ‘What am I going to do? Don’t worry, I’ll think of something that will make you sorry.’
‘Promises, promises,’ he said, laughing, and she gave him a playful shove that almost had him over, and then she was laughing too.
With banks of snow piled against walls and weighing down trees and shrubs, and the lights reflecting from it, Thimblebury looked like a Christmas card. One of those ones Zoe’s gran always sent, with no glitter or jokes or drunken Santas, but with delicate line drawings and soft watercolours that were from a bygone age.
‘I haven’t been to a carol service since school,’ Zoe said as they trudged the lane to get to the church.
Alex turned to her. ‘Seriously?’
