Page 38 of Christmas for the Village Midwife
‘The curry was really good,’ Zoe said. ‘You’re a brilliant cook.’
‘We had a neighbour in Spain who taught me how to make loads of things.’
‘Oh. Well, they did a good job.’
‘Yeah, thanks.’ Billie turned off the television and tossed the remote down. ‘This girl.’
‘Which… You mean Maisie?’
‘That’s her name? The clueless one you were telling me about earlier.’
‘I wouldn’t go as far as to say clueless, but…well, you could say she’s a bit…inexperienced.’
‘I’ve been thinking, and if you want me to talk to her, I will. Don’t think we’re going to be best friends or anything, but I’ll meet with her. I can’t make any promises, though.’
‘I don’t want you to. Nobody would expect you to spend time with someone you don’t gel with. I do appreciate you giving her a chance, though.’
‘What do you want to do about it?’
‘I hadn’t got that far yet. To be honest, the idea only occurred to me earlier on, and I haven’t thought much beyond asking you. I’m not even sure I’m meant to be doing it at all.’
‘If you want, you can give her my number and say I’m new and I’ve got no mates here or whatever, and it’ll look like she’s doing me the favour and you’re just trying to find me a friend. What does it matter if I look like a loser? Sounds like I can’t be a bigger loser than she is.’
Zoe couldn’t help but grin. That wasn’t how she’d put it either, but she was starting to recognise statements like this as Billie’s humour.
‘Thank you,’ she said. ‘I’ll message her tomorrow. I think it will really help.’
‘We’ll see,’ Billie said. ‘She might not want to talk to me.’
‘True, but nothing ventured nothing gained. I’m just glad of the offer.’
They both looked towards the door as Alex came in, rattling a tin at them.
‘Dad!’ Billie groaned. ‘Those are the Christmas chocolates!’
‘It’s almost Christmas,’ he said with an impish look. ‘Technically it starts at the beginning of December, doesn’t it, so technicallyit isChristmas. Or like pre-Christmas?’
Billie shook her head with such resignation that Zoe had to laugh. ‘There’s no hope for him, is there?’
13
If Zoe was worried about Maisie’s reaction to her suggestion that she might like to connect with Billie, she needn’t have been. On her lunch break the following day, she made a quick call with the concocted story, and Maisie seemed flattered by Zoe’s request. It was difficult to know what that meant for how it would play out, and Zoe wondered if she’d come to regret putting these particular wheels in motion, but she passed on Billie’s number anyway and decided to let the two young women work it out for themselves. The rest of her work day was routine, but it was still busy, and by the time she’d seen the last appointment out and cleaned her room, she was ready for a hot bath and a night in front of the television. She and Alex had agreed on at least two nights a week where they didn’t meet up, and though they were both finding those nights torture, she agreed it was a good idea to have some time apart – if only so Billie didn’t start to feel neglected.
She’d just arrived home, courtesy of a lift from Victor through snow that was frozen into hard drifts on the roadsides, when a text from Georgia came through.
How do I know if I’m having Braxton Hicks or the real thing?
Trust me, when you have the real thing, you’ll know! It won’t be long now! Do you need me to come over?
Yes, but only because I’m bored and I need you to entertain me. Where have you been all week?
You saw me three days ago!
Feels like forever. Am I on rations now? Come over. I have crisps. Lots of crisps. I need help eating them.
What about Brett?
He’s out. Emilia is working. I’m so bored I might go into labour right now.
