Page 37 of Christmas for the Village Midwife
‘Well, it’s a grey area in this case…’
‘You’re hardly going to report her, are you?’ Alex put in.
‘Ordinarily, I’d say you’re right,’ Zoe continued. ‘The point is she’s younger than you and not nearly as clued up. I won’t say who it is or give you any medical details, I just want to know what you think of an idea I had to help her.’
‘Why me?’
‘Because you’re smart and you have good ideas.’
Billie retook her seat, and Zoe was glad to see she was giving her full attention.
‘As I said, she’s a couple of years younger than you and a bit naïve even then. Her support network…well, let’s just say they mean well but they cause more problems than they solve. The trouble is they’re all she’s got, and they’re dishing out a lot of flawed information and advice, and of course I can’t be there all the time keeping an eye on things. I worry they’ll unintentionally cause real harm.’
Billie was silent for a moment, and as Alex opened his mouth to offer an opinion, she finally spoke. ‘I don’t know what I’m supposed to do about it.’
‘Nothing,’ Zoe said. ‘Not unless you want to.’
‘What does that even mean?’ Billie asked.
Zoe took a moment before starting again. ‘You’re right – I’m not doing a very good job of explaining the situation. I had thought about starting a support group for my mums, but in a place as small as Thimblebury, I’m not sure it would work. But it might be that some of you, in a more casual way, could offer support to one another.’
‘You want me to sort her out?’ Billie asked, her tone straying into impatience.
‘Doesn’t it sound familiar, though?’ Alex asked. ‘A first-timer with a family who doesn’t have a clue what you need?’
‘It’s hardly like that for us,’ Billie said. ‘You’re a bit clueless, but you’re not putting me in danger.’
‘I might have done, if not for Zoe’s advice.’
Zoe shook her head. ‘That’s not true. Billie’s right about that – it’s not the same at all. And I’m not expecting anyone tosort her out– I just think talking to someone in a similar situation might help her.’
‘We’re both pregnant, but that doesn’t mean we have loads in common.’
‘She doesn’t have the dad around either. Of course,’ Zoe added hastily, ‘it’s a very different situation to yours, but the fact still stands. You’re way more clued up than she is, and if she could be half as savvy as you, it would make my life a lot easier.’
Billie looked doubtful. ‘I don’t know what I’m doing half the time.’
‘Neither does she. In the end, it might be that she helps you as much as you help her.’
Billie paused for a moment and then gave her head an emphatic shake. ‘No. I’m not getting involved.’
‘I understand,’ Zoe said with a small smile. ‘It was worth a shot, though. I need to find a way to dilute her mum’s influence, that’s all.’
‘At least she has a mum,’ Billie said. ‘And just because you don’t rate what her mum has to say doesn’t mean it’s wrong.’
‘Billie!’ Alex began to admonish her, but Zoe cut across.
‘It’s all right. I know what Billie means. I sound like an interfering professional, and perhaps I am.’ She turned back to Billie. ‘It’s not a problem. I’m only trying to do whatever I can to help her. I thought a friend who understands some of what she’s going through might be the answer. I’ll think of something else, I’m sure.’
‘You could at least give it some consideration,’ Alex said but was met by stony silence from his daughter.
‘Leave it,’ Zoe said, afraid that pushing the request would sour the atmosphere. She wanted to help Maisie but not at the expense of her fragile new relationship with Billie. ‘It was unprofessional of me to ask; I realise that now.’
‘I’m going to cook,’ Billie said, leaving the room before anyone had time to comment on her plan either way.
Alex turned to Zoe with a look of unnecessary apology. It was hardly his fault, and Zoe was already beginning to regret trying to involve them.
Alex was loading the dishwasher after their meal while Billie and Zoe went into the living room. Billie flicked idly through the TV channels.
