Chapter 7 #2
‘Only because he was worried. I was worried too; we’re allowed to be. What I was going to say is, are you all right now? Did you ask Emilia about it?’
‘No,’ Zoe said, ‘but I asked Simon.’
‘What did he say?’
‘There’s nothing to say. I told him what had happened, and he didn’t know what it was.’
Billie’s lips drew in. ‘That’s it? You’re doing it again!’
‘Sorry… I’m used to being tough, I suppose. At least, having to be.’
‘You haven’t told Dad what’s really going on, have you?’
‘Of course I have.’
‘Hmm…’
Billie’s single exclamation sounded sceptical, and Zoe hated that she felt the need to lie about her consultation with Simon.
But until she had something more solid than blood tests and conjecture to go on, she wasn’t ready to share any of it.
She supposed she ought to, that it would probably make things worse for her in the end if she didn’t, but she couldn’t bring herself to say the words because to do that would be like inviting the universe to make them true.
‘Well, he never said anything to me about you talking to Simon. So I don’t think that’s true, is it?’
Zoe let out a sigh. ‘I don’t want to worry him, not when he’s got so much else going on and not when it might be over nothing. I’m sure it’s nothing. Simon has sent some bloods for testing, and when they come back, I’ll know more. Then I’ll talk to your dad if I have to.’
‘He should know.’
‘Probably. But I’d appreciate it if you didn’t say anything to him.’
Billie shook her head. ‘It’s stupid.’
‘Maybe. I’m allowed to be stupid sometimes, aren’t I?’
‘He’ll be upset.’
‘Not if there’s nothing wrong and nothing to be upset about. If I can spare him the worry, I’d rather. I’ll deal with the rest if I have to later on.’
‘I still say you should tell him.’
‘You’re probably right, but… I’ll give it some thought. Let’s see what the next few days bring – I can’t help but feel we’ve got more urgent things to worry about. Your first guests will be arriving, and I don’t want to distract your dad from that.’
‘He’s excited about that.’
‘I know, and he should be. It’s an exciting time. He’s—’
From Zoe’s bag came the muffled sound of her phone pinging. She stopped to dig it out. ‘One of my mums,’ she said, opening up the message. After reading it quickly, she dropped the phone back into her bag and carried on.
‘Who was it?’ Billie asked.
‘Oh, I don’t think you know her. She’s been really ill and in hospital, but she’s home now. What was I saying before?’
Billie opened her mouth to reply but was cut short by someone hailing them both from across the street. Zoe shot a knowing grin at Billie, who simply gave an exasperated sigh.
‘Hello, Flo…’
The old woman tottered over and made straight for Louisa, putting her face closer than was polite to get a better look. ‘She doesn’t look like you so much now, does she?’ she said, turning her attention to Billie.
‘She does have two parents,’ Zoe said, ‘so…’
‘Anthony’s the living image of Heath,’ Flo said. ‘There’s no mistaking who his daddy is.’
Zoe couldn’t hold back her clipped reply, though she instantly wished she’d been able to. ‘There wouldn’t be anyway.’
‘No, of course not. I didn’t mean anything by it.’ Flo turned back to Louisa. ‘Is she sleeping through yet? Anthony is. He’s an angel for Ottilie. Such a bonny thing, so happy.’
That wasn’t what Zoe had heard, but this time she bit back her reply. Flo was a doting great-grandmother, and if she wanted to think Anthony was the best baby who had ever lived, then who was Zoe to disabuse her?
‘I thought he had colic,’ Billie said.
Flo let out a derisive snort. ‘Colic? I’ve seen worse than that in my time. He’s a bit fussy now and then, but it’s hardly the drama some people make it out to be.’
‘Ottilie is not normally one to overreact,’ Zoe replied, unable to help herself.
‘Yes, but she’s not herself at the moment. Have you seen young Maisie? She’s had her baby, hasn’t she?’
‘A boy,’ Zoe said, glad of the chance to change the subject. ‘Ezra.’
‘All these old names coming back,’ Flo said. ‘I suppose there’s no sign of his dad, is there? Does Maisie even know where he is?’
‘It’s none of my business.’ Zoe shot a glance at Billie, who looked as if she might be revving up for a confrontation on Maisie’s behalf. ‘It’s nobody’s business but Maisie’s and her ex, for that matter,’ she concluded firmly.
‘Maisie doesn’t want that loser around,’ Billie added. ‘Better to have no dad than a dad like that.’
‘But who’s going to be paying for the upkeep of that baby with no daddy to give his share? Us, that’s who! You and me and everyone else who pays taxes…’
Flo wagged a finger at Billie, and Zoe was tempted to warn her not to because if she wagged it too close, Billie might grab it and try to snap it off.
Zoe had to admit the thought had crossed her own mind, and if not for keeping Flo on side for Ottilie’s sake, she would certainly have given Flo what for by now.
‘That family… they’ve always been scroungers. I suppose you can’t expect the apple to fall far from the—’
‘Flo…’ Zoe cut in, and now there was a discreet warning in her tone.
‘I’m sure Maisie will have a conversation with Ezra’s dad when she’s ready.
She’s nobody’s fool, despite what people around here might say.
As for scrounging, if you’d been inside their house, you’d see that whatever they’re scrounging is hardly keeping them in the lap of luxury. ’
‘All I’m saying is someone will have to keep that little boy.’
‘I know, and I’m glad to see you worrying about it, but you don’t have to. Ezra will be just fine, and Maisie will make sure she gives him whatever he needs, one way or another. She’s a mum now, and you must remember how that changes you.’
‘Oh yes,’ Flo said, instantly softening as she seemed to go into the past. ‘How can you forget that first time you have them in your arms?’ She smiled at Louisa, who was still fast asleep with her chubby face pressed against Billie’s chest. ‘Enjoy her being like this, my love. It goes so fast. Before you know it, they’re getting married and running off to Manchester and you’ll barely see them.
’ She straightened up and whatever misty-eyed recollection she’d been lost in had evaporated and practical, spiky Flo was back. ‘Have you been to the shop?’
‘Just.’
‘Did they have my cheddar in? They haven’t had it in months and they keep saying they’re going to. I can’t think what’s happening… I expect Geoff is losing his marbles finally. Hardly surprising, considering what he has to put up with—’
‘I didn’t notice,’ Zoe said. ‘Maybe you should call in and ask.’
‘That’s where I was going before you stopped me.’
Zoe had to bite hard to keep the grin from her face. ‘Sorry about that. We’ll let you get on.’
Without another word, Flo went on her way.
Billie turned to Zoe as they began to walk again. ‘How does Ottilie put up with her? She’s a total nightmare!’
‘She’s old. So old, she might have got to the age where she reckons she’s earned the right to say anything she wants.’
‘I don’t care how old someone is, they can’t go around roasting other people… It’s not Maisie’s fault her boyfriend dumped her when she got pregnant.’
‘I know, and really Flo does too. She’s just of that generation.’
‘The miserable generation?’
‘One with different values from ours. She means well.’
‘If you say so. The thing is, she’s the same age as Victor and Corrine…’
‘They’re a bit younger, but—’
‘But sort of, and they’re not like that. They’re lovely, and they don’t judge anyone. They’ve even got Fern living with them. Imagine Fern going to Flo for help – she’d have her arrested or something.’
Zoe had to laugh now. ‘You might be right about that. But Ottilie is friends with Flo, so she can’t be all bad.’
‘I don’t know how she’s friends with her. I don’t know how anyone can be. I suppose Ottilie doesn’t have a choice because Flo is Heath’s gran.’
‘Ottilie was friends with her before she started to date Heath.’
‘Then Ottilie wants her head looking at. I thought she was normal, but I must be wrong.’
Zoe’s laughter grew. ‘If she’s not normal, and she’s one of my best friends, I don’t know what that says about me.’