Page 63 of Christmas for the Village Midwife
Billie turned to her. ‘Oh, hey. I didn’t think you’d be up yet, or I’d have asked if you wanted anything.’
‘Don’t worry, I can get my own. Sleep all right?’
‘Fine – I was knackered. You?’
‘Same. It was tough going coming up that hill in the snow last night; I was out as soon as my head hit the pillow.’
‘I bet the drink helped as well,’ Billie said with a wry smile.
‘Did we seem that drunk to you?’
‘A bit. I guess it means you had a good time.’
‘I’m glad your dad’s not here, actually,’ Zoe said as she went to fill the kettle. ‘I wanted to pick your brains about his Christmas present.’
‘What have you got for him?’
‘That’s just it – I haven’t got anything yet. I know I’m really behind, but Christmas has sort of crept up on me, and now I’m going to have to do everything last minute. I don’t have a clue what to get him, though. Any ideas? What sort of things might he like, or is there something he’s said he wants?’
Zoe folded her arms and waited for a reply, but Billie only shrugged and bit into her toast. ‘I haven’t got him anything yet either.’
‘Hmm. Maybe we could go shopping together then?’
‘Where? There’s literally nowhere around here other than Magnus and Geoff’s place.’
‘We’d have to go further afield.’
‘I’m going to order something online probably. I can’t go today anyway.’
‘Oh, you’re busy?’
‘I’m going to meet Maisie.’
‘You are?’ Zoe beamed. ‘That’s good! Where?’
‘Not sure yet. Don’t know what the buses are like at the moment, but we’ll think of somewhere. Or I’ll have her round here.’
‘Well, maybe you and I can go shopping another day?’
‘I doubt we’ll get time now.’
‘There’s a whole week. More or less.’
‘Five days actually. And you have to go to work, and it would have to be when Dad doesn’t know, so I don’t know when we’d do it. It’s probably best if you go when you’re free rather than wait.’
‘It doesn’t matter if he knows where we’re going, does it?’
‘No, but you’re still working until Christmas Eve, aren’t you? I’m not even sure if there are late-night openings in any of the towns around here, but that’s the only time we’d be able to go.’
‘That’s a fair point,’ Zoe said. ‘I’m annoyed at myself, really, for leaving it so late. I just kept thinking I’ve got time and then, before you know it, I haven’t got time.’
‘Yeah, well…’
‘I don’t really want to order online. It doesn’t feel like it’s making much of an effort. It might not arrive on time either now– we’re definitely cutting it fine. You really don’t have any idea what he might want?’
‘You could get him tools.’
‘Tools?’
