Chapter 2 #3
Zoe gave a pained smile. She wondered if that was how Billie really felt about her situation.
Did she feel as if she was missing out? She’d never seemed that interested in the things many other young women her age were into, but perhaps she’d only said so because she hadn’t wanted to acknowledge that she yearned for what she couldn’t have.
Had she been into what everyone else her age was into before her boyfriend had been killed and left her a single mother?
Zoe hadn’t known her back then, so it was hard to say, and when she’d once asked Alex, he’d replied with all the certainty of a father who had decided it would be wise to keep out of that particular part of his daughter’s life.
‘They look good.’ Alex lifted out the greaseproof paper and unwrapped it to reveal fluffy, golden-topped scones.
‘They do,’ Victor agreed. ‘If you could see your way to finding me a pot of jam, I’ll gladly take a brace off your hands.’
‘Only a brace?’ Zoe raised an eyebrow, and he laughed.
‘All right, more like a baker’s dozen…’
Billie looked from one to another. ‘I have no idea what you’re on about, but how many do you want, Victor?’
‘Whatever’s going,’ Victor said cheerily. ‘Just don’t tell Corrine… she keeps telling me I’ve got to cut some of this sugar out.’
‘She makes you cake every day!’ Zoe said with a light laugh. ‘How are you supposed to do that?’
‘She says just because she makes it doesn’t mean I have to eat it all. I confess to being confused sometimes. If she’d only tell me what she wants, I’d do it – anything for a quiet life.’
‘I’d be confused too…’ Alex brought the scones over on a plate while Billie followed with the jam.
‘How is Corrine?’ Zoe asked.
‘Same as always, soldiering on.’
‘That’s good. And the girls?’
‘Oh, they’ll be earning their keep well enough in the coming months, so they’re being pampered right now.
That’s why I popped over, to be honest. I was wondering if Alex would be able to put out some leaflets about the place for your holidaymakers to let them know about my girls… I mean the alpaca trekking.’
‘I think you’re pretty well known already,’ Alex said. ‘But you know you only have to ask. Anything you need, mate, you only have to say it; you’re always there for us when we need you, and we don’t get much chance to return the favour.’
Zoe got up to open the window, and when she sat back at the table, Alex threw her a quizzical look.
‘I’m hot,’ she said in response.
‘Right…’ He turned back to Victor. ‘You’ve got the leaflets at your place?’
‘I need some new ones – some of the info is out of date. I’ve ordered them; should be here in a week or so.’
‘Who are you using? I could do with some literature myself. Most of our business will come from online, I would imagine, but it doesn’t hurt to put a few leaflets out locally, does it?’
‘Not a bit, especially if you want passing trade. You’d be surprised how many folks hike through and don’t organise anywhere to rest the night until the last minute. Your pods will be ideal for people like that.’
‘That’s what I’m hoping.’
‘Maisie had her baby,’ Billie said.
Victor turned to her with a broad smile. ‘That’s grand! I’ll let Corrine know – she’ll want to send a little something. Boy or girl?’
‘A boy, Ezra.’
‘Ezra…’ Victor ruffled his hair. ‘Funny how all these old names come back, isn’t it? I never thought I’d see an Ezra again.’
‘Things do tend to be cyclical,’ Zoe agreed. ‘Baby names especially. When I first started, there were a lot of Jacks and Emilys; now I hardly get any.’
Alex was watching Zoe closely, but it was a full thirty seconds before she realised. ‘Are you all right?’
‘I was going to ask you the same thing. You do look rather… rosy. You’re not coming down with something, are you?’
‘That’s what I said!’ Billie’s tone was almost accusing.
‘I’m fine.’ Zoe waved a hand to dismiss their concerns, but she had to admit that in the last minute or so, she had begun to feel peculiar.
It was like nothing she’d experienced before, like she was burning up from the inside out, and she realised vaguely that her back was wet.
‘I might go and splash my face…’ she began, but as she got up from her chair, she stumbled, the room spinning.
Alex leaped from his seat to catch her, and for the next few seconds, she was barely conscious of her surroundings, only of the others’ voices and a lot of fuss that she couldn’t quite understand.
The next thing she knew, she was lying on the sofa with Alex’s face above, lined with worry.
‘Why have you brought me in here?’ She sat up.
‘I thought you were going to pass out.’
‘I wasn’t… I’m fine. I’m just… I feel a bit off, that’s all. Tired. It’s been a long day. And I’m boiling – can you open the window?’
Alex did as he was asked. It didn’t seem to make a huge difference, and so Zoe pushed herself up and walked over to stand in the draught.
‘This happened the other day, didn’t it?’ he asked.
‘I don’t think so.’
‘Don’t pretend. I saw this same thing the other morning, but I could tell you didn’t want anyone to notice, so I didn’t ask. I should have done. What’s going on?’
‘Nothing! Stop making a fuss. It’s only a funny turn – everyone has them sometimes. I’m probably overtired – things have been manic here lately, haven’t they?’
‘I suppose so,’ Alex said carefully. ‘Promise me if it happens again, you’ll see Emilia or Simon about it.’
‘Yes, but it won’t. It’s nothing, honestly.’
He looked unconvinced but then nodded. ‘Shall I bring your tea in here?’
‘I’ll come back through to the kitchen. I’m fine now. It’ll be postural hypotension or something.’
‘What’s that when it’s at home?’
‘Nothing for you to worry about… Come on – I need to have a word with Victor about something before he goes.’