Page 58 of Christmas for the Village Midwife
Zoe paused. She glanced at Alex, but he shrugged. Zoe supposed, despite wanting to help, he didn’t know Georgia or Ottilie like she did, and so he couldn’t give an opinion on whether it would be a good idea to share her concerns about one with the other. In the end, she wondered why there was any doubt. Ottilie would be discreet and would probably be full of wise advice. ‘To be honest, I went to check on Georgia.’
‘Oh?’ Ottilie frowned. ‘She’s all right? No problems with the baby?’
‘Nothing like that. I think…well, I don’t know really, but do you think something is off there?’
‘I can’t say I do, but I don’t know her like you do. What sort of thing?’
‘Well, Emilia is uptight all the time. I know her from years ago, of course, and she was always a bit serious, but she was nice. She’s still nice – I don’t mean that, but…I can’t put my fingeron it, but I think it’s to do with having Georgia and Brett staying with her, and I think it’s more specifically something going on with Brett that Georgia and Emilia are having to deal with, and I think there’s more to Em having them stay with her than anyone is saying. I mean, I know there is, I just don’t know how worried anyone should be…’ Zoe took a long breath and grimaced. ‘I don’t think any of that made any sense, did it?’
‘It’s vague, I’ll give you that. Like I said, I don’t see it, but I don’t know them like you do, so if you think there’s something to worry about, then I’ll take your word for it. Do you have anything more specific to go on than just your gut?’
‘Well, I think he’s drinking,’ Zoe began.
Ottilie’s frown deepened. ‘Not to be obstructive, but the fact he might like a drink doesn’t mean much. Do you mean he has a problem?’
‘I don’t know.’
‘I’m fairly sure he was steaming when I saw him earlier sitting on a bench by the old phone box with no coat on,’ Alex put in. ‘And I think when you’re at the point when you’re sitting in the snow with no coat, you might consider that a problem.’
‘Doesn’t mean it’s a regular thing,’ Ottilie said with a sceptical tone. ‘Sorry, I don’t mean to pour cold water on your theory, but it needs pointing out. We’ve all done the odd daft thing when we’re drunk, but that doesn’t make us alcoholics.’
‘Getting blind drunk in the middle of the afternoon on your own? In my experience, that’s the sign of a problem.’
Zoe gave him a sharp look. Was he speaking from experience? It wasn’t something they’d discussed, but had he hit that sort of low after he’d lost Jennifer? It was something that had blindsided her, and she wanted to probe, but it would have to wait because here with Ottilie wasn’t the time. Not to mention they had a more immediate issue to deal with.
‘I still think you have to be cautious.’
Zoe let out a sigh. ‘True. I don’t want to see problems every time I look, but I do, that’s all. You’re probably right, though.’
‘Look,’ Ottilie said, ‘if it were me, I’d keep a close eye on things, maybe try to drop some hints to get one of them to open up, but I’d be careful.’
‘If I’m wrong, they’re going to be very offended, I know.’
‘Maybe even really hurt. Again, though, that’s just me. You know them better than me, and you might see what I don’t because of that, so what you do is really up to you.’
Zoe nodded slowly. ‘Thanks, Ott.’
‘Not sure how much help I’ve been, but you’re welcome.’
Alex put an arm around Zoe and pulled her close. ‘There’s nothing else we can do for now. Let’s try to enjoy the party.’
‘He’s right,’ Ottilie said. ‘You might as well.’
‘I’ll get you a drink,’ Alex said. ‘Want cava, like you were having before?’
‘If there’s any left, thanks.’
She watched him go and then turned to see Ottilie studying her.
‘Things look like they’re going really well for you two,’ she said, biting into her cheese straw.
‘I think so,’ Zoe said. ‘I’m just trying really hard not to blow it at the moment.’
‘I can’t see that happening. Seems to me he’s as keen as you are.’
‘It’s early days, isn’t it? Who knows? He might start to think I’m a busybody who sees drama everywhere she looks and wants to wade in to fix it.’
Ottilie laughed. ‘I don’t think so! You don’t really feel that way, surely?’
