Page 21 of Christmas for the Village Midwife
‘Me too,’ Zoe said. ‘Sorry, I’ve got to…’
‘Oh, sure, of course. See you tomorrow!’
9
When Zoe arrived at work the following morning, Emilia was going over a request for an emergency appointment with Lavender in reception. They both turned to bid Zoe a good morning, and as they seemed busy, she returned it and then continued on to her own room. She’d wanted a quick word with Emilia to explain she’d had to hurry away the day before and hadn’t been able to say goodbye before she’d left her and Georgia to move their things in, but as she went, she suddenly realised Emilia was following her anyway.
She stopped with a smile. ‘I’m sorry, I thought you were busy with Lavender, and I didn’t want to disturb you. Did you want me?’
‘I only wanted to say thank you for coming to see Georgia. I mean, she tells me you’re coming over later to catch up on old times.’
‘Yes, but it’s hardly a thing to thank me for. I’m really looking forward to it.’
‘I know, but…well, I think it will do her good. She needs a distraction. As a family, we haven’t had an easy time lately. I don’t want to go into details at this point, you understand, but…’
‘Oh…’ Zoe said, wondering what else she was meant to say. Was she meant to ask, despite Emilia saying she didn’t want to go into details? Was it one of those scenarios, like when you asked a neighbour if they were well and they said yes in a way that meant no and they wanted you to ask even though they’d implied they didn’t want you to ask?
Emilia looked at Zoe meaningfully. ‘I just wanted to say I’m glad she’ll have a friend here.’
Georgia might not have had friends in Thimblebury until Zoe had made herself available, but she had a sister and a husband, and Zoe wondered what kind of hardships their family had endured that those two people were seemingly not enough? Emilia seemed sad and serious. She’d always come across that way to a certain extent – Zoe’s recollections were that of a child, but she remembered Emilia as an earnest and introspective teenager. And yet, it seemed deeper and more profound than that now. She seemed like that young girl of many years ago but now burdened with genuine worry. Zoe had the distinct feeling there was a lot to unpack and at some point she was going to end up involved.
‘I’m glad to have run into you both again,’ she said. ‘It’ll be nice getting to know you as adults after all this time. There’s a lot to catch up on – should be fun.’
‘I’m sure it will be. Don’t worry about me being around. I have a lot to do, so I’ll probably be camped out in the study.’
‘You don’t have to stay out of the way on our account!’
‘I don’t, but I will. I think Georgia would prefer it, to be honest. I think she’s probably due a break from me.’
Zoe wanted to ask where Brett would be, but then Emilia turned to head back to reception. ‘I need to sort something with Lavender before the first patients arrive; I just wanted to catch you before you got busy.’
‘Right. Will we see you for lunch?’ Zoe asked, guessing what the answer would be.
‘I don’t think so,’ Emilia said without turning around. ‘I’m fasting today.’
Zoe frowned, but then decided not to ask and went to her own office to get ready for her working day.
An hour later, she went to call her next appointment through. Gemma was twenty weeks into her second pregnancy and was about as relaxed as any expectant mum Zoe had ever cared for. She had her ten-month-old in a sling as she sat scrolling on her phone. Zoe was delighted to see the door of the surgery open and Yana, her recent home waterbirth, come in with new baby Zoriana.
‘Gemma…’ Zoe dashed over. ‘Give me one minute, would you?’ Gemma nodded, and then Zoe went to Yana with a broad smile. ‘You didn’t take long to be out and about!’
‘With five other children around, I don’t have much choice,’ Yana said with a light laugh. ‘I can go out or stay in and go mad!’
‘They’re at school for some of the day at least,’ Zoe said.
‘Not enough,’ Yana replied with a grin.
Yana had carried her daughter into the surgery in a car seat.
‘I’m amazed you’ve managed to drive anywhere in this snow,’ Zoe said.
‘Ah, it’s a good car,’ Yana said. ‘Not so much a problem.’
‘She’s absolutely gorgeous!’ Zoe bent down to get a closer look at the baby. ‘Perfect.’
‘I think so, but of course I would.’
‘I think they all are, but she is a pretty little thing. How are you doing? She’s being good for you? It’s just that I’m not meant to see you for your last review until?—’
