Chapter 23
Thanks again for helping us to choose a cot. I’m sorry we didn’t get to stop for supper afterwards. Another time, I hope. If you’re free at the weekend and you fancy doing some more detecting, let me know. You’re welcome to join us again. A
Zoe reread the text, imagining all the notes in the margin.
There were notes, right? He was sorry they didn’t get to stop for supper – translate to: I wish we’d been able to have more time together .
“Another time, I hope.” Surely that meant: I’m going to ask you again, and I hope you’ll say yes.
“If you’re free at the weekend and you fancy doing some more detecting…
” Please come over and spend the day with me.
Perhaps she was reading a bit too much into it, but the text brightened her mood all the same.
They were only words, and yet there was so much warmth in them.
She liked him. She didn’t just fancy him, though it was impossible to ignore the effect those dark eyes had on her, but she liked him as a person.
He was decent, good, considerate. A bit stiff at times, but he carried more tragedy with him than anyone ought to, so perhaps that was to be expected.
Besides, she could work on that. She shook her head to banish such thoughts.
Was it too soon after Ritchie to be thinking of someone else? Almost certainly – and complicated by the fact that Ritchie was still very much a part of her life. Whoever came next, they would have to work around that.
But there was chemistry between her and Alex, and she knew he saw it too. She couldn’t be mistaken about that, could she? The only thing that worried her was what she was meant to do about it.
The heating in the village hall was turned up to maximum, and while Zoe was all for keeping the little ones in the parent and baby group warm, she did wonder if it was overkill. As she walked in, it was like a blast from a furnace blowing into her face.
Pulling off her coat and scarf, she searched the room for Ottilie’s friend Stacey.
It wasn’t hard to find her. Stacey was a striking woman, older than Zoe by seven or eight years at a guess, but she had an amazing figure, a punky hairdo and sex appeal that could fell a man from twenty paces.
In any room, she stood out, and it was no different here.
She wore simple fitted jeans and knee-high boots and a tailored checked shirt, which would have looked ordinary on anyone else but was elevated to the pinnacle of style by her.
As Zoe’s eyes came to rest on her, Stacey looked up and waved. With her grandson Mackenzie on her hip, she came across to greet her.
‘I’m so glad you’re here,’ she said. ‘Takes the heat off me for a bit.’
‘Are you sure about that?’ Zoe wafted a hand next to her face. ‘I don’t think anything could take the heat out of this room – it’s like an oven!’
Stacey nodded. ‘I’ve told the caretaker, and he says he’ll pop over in the next half hour to turn it down. Said the forecast was for colder weather than we’ve ended up getting. I’ve opened the windows and that’s helped.’
‘It does explain why all the kids are in their vests and nappies,’ Zoe said, her gaze sweeping the room.
Some of the mums she knew vaguely from her time in Thimblebury and some she didn’t.
There were two dads that she didn’t recognise at all – and she presumed they were dads but could have been any caregiver, she supposed. ‘So where do you want me?’
‘Oh, set up anywhere you can find a space. It’s only a small room so everyone will be able to hear you. It’s good of you to come.’
‘I had a spare couple of hours with no examinations today so it’s no bother. I might as well be doing something useful with my time.’
‘This will be really useful. I get asked about weaning and milk all the time, and I’m no expert.
I fed Chloe, of course, and help with this little man’ – she jogged Mackenzie on her hip, and he let out a gorgeous giggle – ‘but I’m sure you’ll give better advice than I ever could.
To be honest, I’m hoping to learn something today too. ’
‘I’ll do my best then. Hopefully it won’t be too boring, but I’ll try to keep it short because the little ones don’t stay quiet for long.’
‘They’re never quiet in here. I love doing this, but I always go home thankful for the peace of my house. While I have you – when you’ve finished your presentation, of course – I wanted to pick your brains.’
‘Oh? About Chloe?’
‘No, about me.’
‘You’re not…?’
‘Oh, no!’ Stacey started to laugh. ‘God no! My childbearing days are over! No, I’ve been thinking of setting up as a childminder.
I love doing the parent and baby group, and I think I do all right.
With Chloe and Mackenzie leaving, I could do with some work, but I don’t want to drive out of Thimblebury every day, and it’s not like there’s loads of work here, so childminding seemed like a good solution.
But I don’t know where to start – I’m guessing there are rules and such. I’ve done a bit of googling?—’
‘That’s a brilliant idea!’ Zoe beamed. ‘I don’t know how much help I can be, but I’ll do my best to answer any questions you have.
I also know one or two registered childminders, and I can put you in touch with them so you can pick their, probably more knowledgeable, brains.
But I’m sure there are a lot of people who would be glad of a childminder in Thimblebury. ’
‘That’s what I’m hoping.’
‘Ottilie would definitely be your first customer. You’ve mentioned it to her?’
‘Oh, yes, and she said the same. She says it’s perfect for her to have me. I can’t wait, actually. I bet Ottilie’s baby will be a dream – if they’re anything like her.’
‘Well, you and I know you can’t always guarantee that, but I’m sure she’ll be a chilled mum, and that will help. You know Billie, up at Hilltop?’
‘I’ve seen her once or twice but not really spoken to her.’
‘I think she’d be glad of a few hours of your time too. I’ll talk to her and let her know your plans. When are you thinking you might be up and running?’
‘It depends on what I need to do first. As soon as possible, really – at least, as soon as Chloe has moved out.’
Zoe felt a little hand tugging at her skirt and looked down to see a toddler grinning up at her. ‘You’re an extrovert in training if ever I saw one!’ She smiled. ‘Hello!’
‘Sorry!’ The child’s mother came dashing over. ‘He’s at that age where he thinks everyone wants to play.’
‘They go one way or the other, don’t they?’ Zoe said. ‘Very shy or the life and soul of the party.’ She crouched down to talk to the child. ‘What’s your name?’
He simply grinned, exposing two tiny teeth and a stream of drool that oozed down his chin.
‘You’re Carlton, aren’t you?’ his mum said, scooping him up. ‘Say hello, Carlton.’
Carlton didn’t say hello; instead, he wriggled to get free of his mother’s arms.
‘Carlton,’ Zoe said. ‘Haven’t met a Carlton before. How do you do, Carlton?’
He grinned again then started to pull a face of desperate concentration that slowly turned puce, and then he settled into a look of deepest satisfaction.
His mum sniffed the air. ‘You little…I’ve just changed your nappy!’
Stacey and Zoe both laughed as Carlton’s mum threw an exasperated look their way and then took him off to the changing station. A moment later, Mackenzie started to wriggle to be free of Stacey’s arms.
‘Go on then.’ She put him down, and he toddled off in the direction of the toy box.
‘Where’s Chloe today?’ Zoe asked.
‘It’s a study day.’
‘She’s still doing her course then?’
‘She wants to keep on with it as long as she can. The plan is to get as many credits as possible, and then she can pick it up and finish the course after the baby is born.’
‘It’s a good idea.’
‘It’s not often she has them, but I think so too.
I would imagine Ollie has had a hand in the decision.
He seems to have his head screwed on. Lucky she dropped on such a good one – things could have been worse.
She could have stayed with Mackenzie’s dad, for a start.
Although, I’d have driven her to a convent myself if she’d told me she was doing that. ’
‘Ollie’s the new baby’s father? Forgive me, I lose track.’
‘Of Chloe’s baby daddies or everyone in general?’
Zoe’s face fell. ‘Oh God! I didn’t mean?—’
Stacey laughed. ‘I know you didn’t! Your face!
Sorry, I didn’t mean to make you freak out; I was only joking.
I forgot you’re not tuned into my humour yet – it takes most people a while.
That’s why I love Ottilie so much – she got me straight away.
Come on – the natives are getting restless so you might want to get your talk started. ’
While Stacey began to clear a space for her to sit, surrounded by her displays of baby foods and information leaflets, Zoe watched, smiling to herself.
She could see why Ottilie had become such firm friends with her, and she wondered if Stacey might be the perfect, no-nonsense woman to help Billie out when the baby arrived.
Even if Alex could only afford a few hours a week, having Stacey take the baby off their hands might relieve a lot of the pressure from both him and Billie.
She decided she’d call over to see them later and mention it.
In the end, she didn’t make it to Hilltop.
In fact, she didn’t get back to Kestrel Cottage until gone midnight, and by that time all she wanted to do was fall into bed.
Earlier that evening, one of her expectant mums, Helena, had called after clinic hours in a blind panic because she’d gone into premature labour, and it was progressing so rapidly she didn’t think she’d make it to the hospital.
Zoe always trusted the mother’s instincts, and so she’d raced over, ready to take on an unplanned home birth.