Page 62 of Christmas for the Village Midwife
‘She didn’t say she was going to.’
‘I know, but…’
Billie came through from the living room in thick socks and a fleecy dressing gown fastened over her baby bump. Grizzle was at her heels but then tore over to make a fuss of Alex the moment he saw him. ‘Oh, you’re back. Was the party good?’
‘It was fun.’ Zoe ruffled Grizzle’s head as he sniffed at her for a moment, tail going mad, before deciding he wanted Alex after all.
‘I didn’t think you’d come back in this,’ Billie added. ‘Is it deep out there?’
Alex looked up from untying his laces. He’d been struggling to see what he was doing because Grizzle kept sticking his head in his face, and he had to keep pushing him out of the way. ‘Deep enough. If it carries on like this, I might have to decide which of you I eat first.’
‘Dad,’ Billie replied in a withering tone. ‘You’re really not as funny as you think you are.’
‘Itwasa struggle getting up here,’ Zoe said, laughing. ‘I’m going to stay over, if that’s all right with you. It’ll save me trying to get back to my place and breaking an ankle.’
‘It doesn’t make a difference to me either way,’ Billie said. She went to the sink and got herself a glass of water.
‘There it is…’ Alex said, going to look at the gingerbread house. ‘Have you come down after your moment of triumph?’
‘It was just a village thing.’ But Billie turned her gaze to her entry and Zoe was certain she saw the tiniest smile of pride there. ‘Anyway,’ she said, draining her glass and dumping it intothe sink, ‘I only wanted to wait up until you were home, so I’m going to bed now.’
‘Right then,’ Alex said. ‘Goodnight. Thanks for putting the lamp in the window for us.’
‘It’s all right.’ Billie snapped her fingers. ‘Griz! Come on!’
Grizzle skittered across the tiles of the kitchen floor to follow her. A moment later, her footsteps sounded on the stairs, and the dog’s, lighter, alongside. Then a door slammed upstairs and all was quiet.
Alex turned to Zoe, taking her face in his hands. He was about to kiss her when he stopped, screwing his eyes up as he studied something, a quiet smile lighting his face.
‘Hang on…’ He put his pinky finger gently to her cheek, picked something up and then held it out for her to see. ‘Eyelash. You said you wanted something to wish on.’
Zoe blew it away and closed her eyes. ‘Done.’
‘So did you wish for snow on Christmas Day?’
‘I can’t tell you, can I? Otherwise it won’t come true.’
‘Spoilsport.’
‘I don’t make the rules. Take it up with the wish people…fairies, leprechauns…whoever they are.’
He grinned, and she was taken by a sudden yawn. ‘OK, well that’s my wish snuffed out.’
‘Huh?’
‘You’re tired.’
‘A bit. It has been a very long day. Sorry.’
‘Come on then, sleepy, before you nod off where you’re standing.’
When Zoe woke the next morning, she was in bed alone. She clambered out and went to the window just in time to see Alex go out of the gate with Grizzle at his heels. The hills were like arolling duvet of white cotton, stretching as far as she could see. Normally from here she could make out the shapes of Kestrel Cottage and Daffodil Farm in the distance, but today she could barely see either of them.
Alex turned back and looked up and, spotting her, gave a cheery wave. She waved back with a broad smile, a little disappointed that he hadn’t woken her so she could have gone out with him. But there’d be plenty of time later to take a walk in the snow, and perhaps it would be a good idea to get some breakfast inside her first.
Billie was in the kitchen making toast when Zoe went down there.
‘Morning.’
