Chapter 19
It had rained hard all day, and Zoe had arrived at every home visit soggy, even though she’d only had to run from her car in some cases. But as she switched off her laptop and got ready to leave the surgery, the clouds finally parted and the rain stopped.
Her phone pinged the arrival of a text message as she put on her coat. It was the message from her dad she’d been expecting.
We’re in! Come and see us any time, neighbour! x
Zoe sent a brief reply to offer her congratulations and then slid her phone into her bag.
Her dad probably expected her to go over that evening.
She supposed she’d have to make the effort sooner rather than later, but it had been a long day, and she just wanted to spend the rest of it with Alex, Billie and Louisa.
Alex was getting ready to take Grizzle for a walk when she arrived back at Hilltop.
‘He’s going mad,’ he said as he pulled on his boots.
‘Been stuck inside all day with the weather, needs a good run out to blow off the cobwebs. I must admit I feel the same. I’ve been sitting at the desk upstairs for the last four hours trying to work out the ins and outs of solar panelling – I’ve never been so bored. ’
‘How’s Billie?’
‘Louisa is having a nap, so she’s gone to lie down with her.’ He frowned slightly.
‘I know that look. What’s happened?’
‘Nothing. I mean, I don’t know if it matters or not, but Maisie phoned her. I heard them talking. It sounded as if Maisie had asked to visit – she hasn’t seen Louisa yet, and she’s been saying for weeks how she couldn’t wait for her to arrive. But I think Billie told her she couldn’t come.’
‘I suppose she’s tired. Too tired for entertaining.’
‘Yes, she probably is, but knowing how excited Maisie was, and that Billie was a bit excited to show Louisa off before she was born, it doesn’t sit right with me.
It’s not like Billie to deliberately disappoint someone in that way.
I mean, she’d know Maisie was gagging to come over, and ordinarily I’m sure she’d say yes no matter how tired she was. ’
Zoe went to the door that led to the stairs. ‘Don’t go without me. I could do with a walk too; I’m just going to get my outdoor gear on.’
She rushed up to the bedroom, suddenly wired. On the way, she pushed the door to Billie’s room open a crack to see both her and Louisa still sleeping. Then she shut it softly again before going to get changed, arriving back in the kitchen in record time.
Alex was fastening Grizzle’s lead to his collar. He looked up. ‘Everything calm up there?’
‘You knew I’d check,’ Zoe said with a smile.
‘I did wonder,’ he replied with a grin of his own.
‘Right then. Let’s get this pooch out for some exercise before the heavens open again.’
Zoe took a deep breath as he closed the door to Hilltop and they stepped onto the path. ‘It’s nice to be up here. Sometimes when I’m busy at work I forget I have all this lovely countryside just out of the window. I always think I’ll go for a lunchtime walk, but it never seems to happen.’
‘I’d wait until the summer. I’m looking forward to that – Louisa being a bit bigger, the days being longer and warmer… We’ll be able to take her out, let her play a bit on the grass… It’s going to be good.’
‘Very.’ Zoe watched him open the gate. ‘I didn’t want to ask, but since you’ve already mentioned Maisie and Billie not letting her come over… do you think we need to be worried about her?’
‘Who?’
Zoe glanced up at the window of Billie’s bedroom.
‘Oh,’ Alex said. He fastened the gate again after they’d gone through, Grizzle straining at his lead. ‘Do you?’
‘You said yourself it wasn’t like her to let Maisie down. She’s not a naturally gregarious person, but she is kind, and she values the people she lets in.’
‘True…’ He nodded slowly as they began to walk.
‘So have you noticed anything else that’s worrying you?’
‘It’s hard to say. I didn’t know what to expect once we brought Louisa home, so I don’t know if any of this is how it’s meant to be.’
‘But you must have some memories of when Jennifer first brought Billie home.’
‘I remember I didn’t dare speak to her until I’d found out what her hormones had to say about it.’ He gave a faint laugh. ‘I did wonder if I’d have to get body armour at one point. But she seemed happy, even if she was a bit up and down.’
‘You think Billie is happy?’
‘I think she loves Louisa, if that’s what you mean. Do you think she’s regretting her decision to keep her?’
Zoe paused and then shook her head slowly.
‘No, I don’t think it’s that. I am beginning to think she might be struggling, though.
With her mood generally, and not just because of her hormones.
I might be worrying for nothing – and honestly I’m not used to seeing quite so much of my new mums; it’s usually a quick in-and-out to check on them – so it could be that a lot of them are like she is when I’m not there.
But even you must be able to see she’s not really looking after herself.
She doesn’t want company either, and she doesn’t want to go out. ’
‘She’s always been a bit of an introvert…’ Alex gave a vague shrug. ‘I don’t know. Although I can see she’s not as… what’s the word I’m looking for…?’
‘Particular? She likes things to be right and proper.’
‘Yeah, I suppose that’s it. I know she’d never go a day without a shower ordinarily, but I put that down to being knackered looking after Louisa.’
‘It might be that, but I’d hate to think we’d missed something that needs addressing. I hope you don’t mind, but I asked Emilia about coming to see her to assess her – under the radar because when I’ve tried to ask Billie, she insists everything is all right.’
‘It’s what she says to me too.’
‘So you have been worried enough to ask?’
‘I don’t know about that exactly. I ask in case she needs something because she’s got her hands full.’
‘I see what you mean. So if you’re in agreement, I was thinking we’d get Emilia to come up with Georgia and William. Because Georgia and Billie sort of bonded at Christmas, so she wouldn’t think it odd for her to come up with her baby to visit, would she?’
‘I don’t think so. That’s a good idea. When?’
‘Emilia said they could do tomorrow. I hadn’t said definitely to come because I wasn’t sure, but given what you’ve told me about Maisie, I think I will ask them to come. Assuming they’re still free, that is.’
‘We’ll have to fit in a visit to your dad this week too.’
‘I suppose we will.’
He looked down at her. ‘You’re not entirely sold on the idea of him living across the way, are you?’
‘No. I’m getting used to it. It’s just that I wasn’t expecting it.’
‘We could pop by now. We’re walking Griz anyway; it’s not so hard to go in that direction and knock on the door to say hello.’
‘I’d rather not be out too long because of Billie. If she wakes up and needs something and neither of us are in…’
‘You’re probably right, though she does keep telling me not to interfere.’
‘She’s told me a few times too. Last week especially; I think she was glad to see me go back to work. This living together… it’s not as easy as we’d first thought.’
‘I like it, though. You’re still happy, right?’ His eyes were suddenly full of doubt.
‘God, yes! I only mean we’ve got a few more complications than the average couple who decide to move in together.’
‘You’re right about that. It’s worth it, though.’
‘I’m glad you think so. I think so too. We’ll fix up something more formal with Dad and go to see him properly. Maybe Billie will want to come. Chantal would love to see her and Louisa, I know that. She’ll need to make connections with other new mums if she’s going to stay.’
‘It might do Billie some good too.’
‘Not if her fobbing Maisie off is anything to go by. But we can try, right? Poor Maisie. I wonder why she didn’t phone me about it.’
‘Perhaps she didn’t want to bother you.’
‘I suppose. I might give her a call tomorrow to see how she’s doing. She’s not due a clinic appointment for a while, but…’
By now, Grizzle was miles away. At least it seemed like he must have travelled at the speed of sound because he was way further than Zoe could have thought possible.
It was then she noticed a figure with another dog.
This dog was stocky and short-haired, and it was making a beeline for Grizzle, the man booming commands for it to return that were being ignored.
‘I don’t like the look of that—’ Alex began but was cut short by a growl and a yelp, and then Grizzle was haring back to them with the other dog in pursuit.
Alex began to run towards the commotion. Zoe raced after him, though she had no clue what she’d do when she got there.
‘Griz… here, Griz!’ Alex shouted.
Grizzle got there first – he was leaner and faster than the other dog – and then Alex put him on his lead and, with strength that impressed even Zoe, scooped him up into his arms, a massive wriggly burden of fur and wide eyes.
Then he waited, staring down the approaching attacker as it barked and slavered. ‘Get out of it!’ he yelled. ‘Go away!’
Zoe wasn’t usually nervous around dogs, but this one looked mean.
She inched closer to Alex, feeling the protection of his presence, even if it meant very little against a set of sharp teeth.
It was then she noticed Alex staring at the other man, who was coming to collect the dog and her mouth fell open.
‘Lennon? What are you doing here?’
Lennon grabbed the dog and yanked it over, quickly slipping a muzzle over its face. ‘He was only playing,’ he said.
‘Maybe you should teach him not to play so rough,’ Alex replied coldly.
‘No harm done, though,’ Lennon said, eyeing Grizzle with some disparagement as Alex set him down. ‘What sort is he?’
‘Well behaved.’
‘Right…’ Lennon rubbed a thumb under his nose and laughed. ‘Gunner’s a cross. Mastiff and something else, not sure what.’
‘Rhino?’ Alex offered, and Lennon laughed harder.
There was nothing good-natured in it, however.
It was the laugh of someone who didn’t think the person they were addressing was worth their time or effort.
Zoe had struggled to warm to Chantal’s brother at the wedding, but she’d given him the benefit of the doubt for the sake of her dad.
Now, she knew she outright disliked him.
‘You’re going to see your dad?’ Lennon asked Zoe.
‘Not right now. I assume that’s why you’re here.’
‘I’m staying with them. For a bit.’
‘What’s a bit?’ Alex asked, and though Lennon glanced at him, he turned his attention back to Zoe.
‘Where’s your new place then?’ He pointed in the direction of Hilltop. ‘Is that it?’
‘Are you going to be walking that out here a lot?’ Alex asked, nodding at the other dog.
‘I expect so. Nothing else to do here is there?’
‘It’s your dog?’ Zoe asked.
‘Yep. He needs a firm hand. Couldn’t ask your dad or Chan to walk him even if I wanted to.’
‘He needs a cattle prod,’ Alex said under his breath, and though Zoe heard it, if Lennon did, he gave no indication.
Lennon’s dog was pulling, trying to get at Grizzle. Meanwhile, Alex’s poor, peace-loving pooch was scrambling to get away.
‘It’s time I took him back,’ Lennon said, giving the chain he’d got Gunner on a sharp yank. ‘He’s getting overexcited. He’s a bit of a lad, if you know what I mean. Likes to get scrappy – he can’t help it, just his breed. See you when you come over, eh?’
Lennon turned and walked away, the sounds of his dog gasping and straining to get back to Griz audible as he went.
‘Dogs like that shouldn’t be allowed out,’ Alex said, watching them. ‘I bet it’s one of those illegal ones. We ought to report it.’
‘I’m not sure…’
‘Sorry.’ He forced a tense smile for Zoe. ‘I know it’s your stepmum’s brother, and I don’t suppose you want to cause trouble.’
‘Not for how long he’s likely to be around. If he’d moved into Kestrel Cottage, it would be different.’
‘You’re right. Until he leaves, we’ll just have to keep Grizzle out of his way.
Come on…’ He turned to lead them in the opposite direction.
‘We’ll go up the hill instead of over the fields.
He’d better not wander onto our land with that mangy thing because I don’t know if I’ll be able to keep my temper. ’
‘Do you want me to have a word with my dad?’ Zoe asked, hoping he’d say no.
‘I’d hate to cause friction. Let’s just see how it goes and hope we don’t have to run into him again. At least, not out with that mutt. I suppose he might be there when we go to see your dad, and that can’t be helped.’
‘They do say you can’t choose your family,’ Zoe said. ‘And time and time again, that seems to be true. I’ve just got to like Chantal, finally, and then she has to go and bring him here.’
‘I’m glad it’s not just me,’ Alex said. Despite Lennon taking his dog away, it was telling that Alex kept Grizzle on his lead now.
‘Let’s not worry about it,’ Zoe decided, brightening her tone. ‘We’ve got way more important things than him to use our mental energy on.’