Chapter 10
Ritchie stayed for two hours. Their meal had been pleasant enough – Zoe had listened to him go through his options at work and given cautious opinions. While not wanting to get too involved, she wanted to show her support.
He’d dropped hints about Alex too. He kept asking how well she knew him, when he’d moved to the area, what his plans were, who was living at Hilltop with him.
She couldn’t see why he was so fixated on a man who’d barely spoken two words to him.
Or perhaps she could, but she didn’t want to acknowledge it because it would mean facing the fact that Ritchie was struggling to let go, despite the impending finality of their divorce.
More than once, she came close to airing her worries, reasoning that if she didn’t say something, their amicable relationship might be soured.
And yet, she couldn’t bring herself to raise the subject.
Next time, she told herself, if there was a next time.
Perhaps he’d go home and reflect on what she’d said when he’d first arrived and he’d work it out for himself and she wouldn’t need to.
She’d seen him off, cleaned her kitchen, showered and then climbed into bed, her mind a whirr of activity, despite her exhaustion. And so, even though she was tired, it had taken over an hour for her to finally sleep.
Most of what had been on her mind popped back up the minute she woke the following morning, and it was still there when she arrived at work.
If there had been more time to kill before her first appointment, she might have been tempted to seek Ottilie’s opinion, but as they were both busy with full schedules, she decided it would wait.
And then, as the morning went by, she decided the situation would resolve itself without having to burden anyone else.
The morning was uneventful. Everyone she saw was fine and healthy and progressing as they ought to be.
The last appointment was a home visit, not too far out of the village, to see Sally, who’d given birth to a little girl the week before but while visiting relatives out of the area, and so it was the first time Zoe had managed to call on her since then.
‘Can I get you a cup of tea?’ Sally asked as she let Zoe in.
‘Oh, no, thanks. I’m going to be having my lunch as soon as I’ve seen you. How have you been? Did you enjoy your time in…Surrey, wasn’t it?’
‘Yes, I was visiting my parents. I mean, it was a bit eventful…’
She raised her eyebrows, and Zoe laughed. ‘Yes, I dare say giving birth could be considered eventful. I bet your parents were thrilled to have you close by, though.’
‘My mum was – it meant she could be at the hospital with me. They’ve been brilliant, actually.
Between you and me, I’d been getting a bit nervous as the birth approached, but Mum and Dad were so good and such a huge help, we’ve all completely forgotten by now that they were dead against the sperm donor business in the beginning. ’
‘I would imagine one look at baby would fix that,’ Zoe said as Sally showed her into the sitting room, where a Moses basket sat on a stand.
Sally went to it and lifted her baby out. ‘Here she is. Primrose Honeysuckle.’
‘Awww…’ Zoe drew closer. ‘Hello there, Primrose! Aren’t you the most beautiful little thing?’
‘I think so,’ Sally said. ‘But of course, I would.’
‘They’re all beautiful to me,’ Zoe said. ‘All perfect. So, any worries? For Primrose or yourself?’
‘Not that I can think of. I’m amazed at how relaxed I feel with her already. Mum kept telling me how hard it would be on my own, but I don’t feel it yet. I suppose I might do when I go back to work, but I’m not even going to think about that until I have to.’
‘You’re taking the full year maternity leave?’
‘I’m going to play it by ear. I did think six months – the pressure of being sole wage earner and all that – but I might enjoy my time with Primrose too much for that. I’m sure I’ll find a way, whatever I decide to do. Mum and Dad will be desperate to help, of course. They’re already smitten.’
‘I’ll bet they are.’ Zoe smiled as she got out her scales.
She was heartened to see that Sally seemed to have everything under control.
She’d prove to be a calm and capable parent, she had no doubts there, and it sounded as if she had a good support network, even if they were a few hours down the motorway.
‘Right then,’ she added, holding her arms out for the baby, ‘shall we see what’s what? ’
Zoe made it back from Sally’s house as the surgery was closing for lunch.
They were having Thai massaman curry and rice made by Fliss, which everyone agreed was a delicious surprise because she’d told them the day before it was going to be sausage casserole.
And then the afternoon clinic was in full swing, and before she knew it, Zoe was calling in the final appointment.
‘Hello, Tegan.’ Zoe gestured a seat. ‘How are you doing?’
‘I’m not too good. I know I’m not due to see you yet, but…’ Tegan dropped into the chair.
Zoe would have known things weren’t good, even if Tegan hadn’t just said so. ‘I’m here whenever you need me – that’s my job. You don’t have to apologise.’
‘Thanks for fitting me in anyway.’
‘Again, not a problem. So what’s worrying you?’
‘I don’t know. I mean, I’m knackered all the time. All I seem to do is sleep, and I was never this bad with either of my others. I’m older, I suppose. Is that normal?’
‘It’s not unexpected.’
‘I feel different. I can’t say what it is.
I don’t feel well at all. I know it’s been eighteen years since my last one, but I don’t remember feeling like this.
I wasn’t exactly bouncing around last time, but I didn’t feel this exhausted.
All I want to do is stay in bed, but I can’t because I have to work and there’s stuff to do in the house. ’
‘Can’t you get help with the house? I’m sure if you explain to your family?—’
‘I have, but I don’t think they get it.’
‘Perhaps it would do you some good to take time off work? I could see about a note for you, to give you a couple of weeks’ rest.’
Tegan nodded. ‘That would be good.’
‘And while you’re here, I’ll do some checks to make sure there’s nothing going on undetected that we need to deal with.
I expect it’s all perfectly normal. Perhaps a little bit of it is your age – you’re an older mum now, which I know you know all about – but it wouldn’t hurt to cover all the bases.
’ Zoe got out her blood pressure reader.
‘Any headaches? Blurred vision? Dizziness or nausea? Anything like that, or are you just tired?’
‘Not just tired, absolutely exhausted. All the time. If I could take to my bed now I’d sleep for the rest of my life.’
‘But nothing else?’
‘I have had some headaches.’
‘Do you think you could get a urine sample to me?’
‘Already done it.’ Tegan got a tiny bottle from her handbag and held it up. ‘It’s not my first time around the block, you know.’
‘I see that,’ Zoe said, taking the sample with a smile. ‘I’ll get it checked. I don’t suppose you’ve managed to take your own blood pressure too?’
‘Sorry, I’m not that good.’
‘Not to worry; let’s do that now. Baby seems all right? Any movement?’
‘I haven’t felt any kicking yet; it’s hard to tell.’
‘That’s OK. I only ask because it’s not your first and so I thought you might have noticed a bit of fluttering, but you’re right, it’s early. No bleeding?’
Tegan shook her head as Zoe wrapped the cuff around her arm and read her blood pressure.
After a moment, she frowned but then immediately smoothed her expression into a bright smile.
She didn’t want to alarm Tegan, who had already proved to be nervous, despite the fact it was her third pregnancy.
‘A bit on the high side,’ she said. ‘Higher than I’d like.
But don’t worry,’ she added, aware that worrying was likely to drive Tegan’s blood pressure higher still.
‘I’m sure some rest and calm will bring it down. ’
‘Are you?’ Tegan’s eyes were wide.
‘Absolutely. I’ll want to keep a close eye on things, and so I’m going to ask that you come to see me a bit more often until I’m happy with it.
And of course, I’ll check your sample to make sure there’s nothing else.
I want you to take it easy until I see you again.
Will you be able to do that if I give you a note for time off work? ’
‘I think so, as long as I have something official.’
‘It will be. I think, to be on the safe side, you should stay at home for the next week at least. I’ll see you again after that to check things, but if there’s anything bothering you, phone me.
Don’t hesitate to call, no matter if you think it’s silly.
But the most important thing – and I can’t stress this enough – is try not to worry.
I know that’s easier said than done, but if you can relax, that will help.
Take advantage of some well-earned rest. I’m going to check a few other things while you’re here, but I don’t want you to think any of it is bad news. ’
‘OK.’ Tegan nodded, her eyes still trained on Zoe as if her life depended on her. Zoe tried not to think about that. Instead, she got on with the task in hand and put her own fears to one side.
After work, Zoe changed quickly out of her uniform and freshened up before heading to Daffodil Farm. At the farmhouse back door, she shook out her umbrella, marvelling at how, only the previous weekend, she’d managed to get sunburned on the boat across Ullswater.
‘Here.’ Corrine pointed to a bucket with two other umbrellas already in there. ‘Pop it in here, my love. It’s coming down in stair rods out there, isn’t it? Victor picks his moments to go out to the paddock to see to the girls.’
‘The girls?’ Zoe blinked.
‘Oh, you know, his herd.’
‘Oh, his alpaca!’ Zoe cast a glance around the empty kitchen. ‘Am I the first here?’