Page 34 of A Christmas Wish for the Village Midwife

Billie turned sharply to her. ‘What’s that supposed to mean?’

‘Maisie doesn’t have anyone who can help her if she runs into financial difficulties. Her mum certainly doesn’t have anything to spare.’

‘Whereas I have everything I need without lifting a finger? I suppose that makes me spoiled? I don’t ask Dad to keep me, and in the end it’s the same – they live in a house they’ve been given for free.’

‘That’s not what I meant at all, and I think you know that and you’re taking my words out of context…’

Billie scowled, but she didn’t argue the point.

‘Maisie and Fern still have to pay some rent on their house,’ Zoe continued, ‘even if it is subsidised. And they have to feed themselves and their babies, pay the bills, buy toiletries and clothes and all the other bits that mount up. Fern has nobody to ask either. I’m sure, if it works out for Maisie, Fern will want to do something similar once she’s over Benji’s birth and they’re settled into a routine. It’s good for her to feel as if she has some independence too, some agency over her situation, instead of sitting around helplessly waiting for handouts. No matter what the media like to say about people who are on benefits, most don’t want that to be their entire life.’

‘Since when did you become a social justice warrior?’ Billie pulled the rain cover over the hood of Louisa’s buggy as the first spots splashed onto the pavement ahead.

‘I can see you’re not really in the mood for this conversation today. You gave your opinion on Maisie’s new job, and I gave you mine. I thought that was the point of you bringing it up.’

‘Sometimes you’re so annoying. You’ve always got to be reasonable about everything. You can’t actually be that nice – it’s not normal.’

‘I’m not always nice, trust me. I wish I could be nicer. Maybe it’s my job, I couldn’t say, but I’m sorry it annoys you.’

‘Ugh, you’re even doing it now!’

Zoe didn’t lose her temper, and she didn’t take offence at Billie’s insults, because she sensed there was something deeper going on, something bothering Billie that she couldn’t find the words for. So instead of trying to express it directly, she was expressing her frustration at something she couldn’t name indirectly, by expressing frustration at everything around her. Zoe had seen it before, and she knew how to deal with it, but that didn’t mean it didn’t worry her now.

As they turned the corner, they found Magnus up a ladder hanging lights around the doorway of the shop.

‘Getting in the Christmas spirit?’ Zoe called as they wandered over.

Magnus pinned the last bit to the frame and then climbed down the ladder with a smile. ‘Hello! Yes, we thought it was about time we did the decorations. We meant to last weekend but got distracted and didn’t have time in the end.’

‘That wouldn’t be anything to do with the panto auditions, would it?’

‘Yes.’ Magnus pulled a pristine cloth from where it had been hanging from his ladder and wiped his hands.

‘How did they go?’

‘We had some brilliant people. I had no idea there was so much talent in Thimblebury! I’m just casting it now, but it’s hard to let anyone down. I’ll have to, of course, because there just aren’t enough roles to go around… I suppose we could have a very big ensemble if people were happy to make their own costumes.’

‘You could ask the question on the village Facebook page. I’m sure lots would want a chance to join in and would be happy to source their own props and things.’

‘I will, actually. I had wondered if we’d see any of you at the auditions…’

Billie said nothing, only stared at Magnus as if she thought he was quite mad. He laughed at the sight of it, though his laughter didn’t crack a smile from her.

‘It’s not really our thing,’ Zoe replied in her stead.

‘Not even Alex? I had the sneakiest suspicion he might have been a secret thespian.’

‘Sorry to disappoint you, but no. Well at least I don’t think so… you’d have to ask him yourself I’d say. But he’s pretty busy with other things.’

‘The campsite’s closed for the winter, isn’t it?’

‘Yes, but he’s got plenty to keep him occupied.’

Magnus went to the buggy and peered in at Louisa with a smile. She was bundled in a pink coat Zoe had bought for her, but had yanked off the woolly hat covering her dark hair, studying it closely as if she couldn’t decide whether to see what it tasted like.

‘Yes, I suppose he wants to keep all his time for this little one. I don’t blame him – she gets prettier every day.’ Finally, Billie offered the ghost of a smile, and Zoe was pleased to see Magnus seemed heartened by it. ‘And I imagine you’re going to have another go at the gingerbread competition,’ he added to her. ‘Going for the crown this year, are you? I won’t be entering, you know. I don’t have time now that we’ve got the panto to plan and rehearse.

‘What are you going to make this time?’ Magnus asked, but Billie gave a careless shrug.