Page 58 of A Christmas Wish for the Village Midwife

Emilia marched back to her office, leaving Lavender pulling silly faces behind her back.

‘One of these days you’re going to push her too far,’ Zoe said.

‘See if I care.’ Lavender glanced at the sheet. ‘She’d never find another mug like me to do this job. She could sack me, but she’d be begging for me to come back within a week. And I’d say no, just to see her face.’

‘You’d never.’ Zoe shook her head with a knowing smile. ‘You love this place too much. You love us too much to see us all floundering without you.’

‘Oh, I’d help you lot, just not her.’

Both Zoe and Shabana laughed.

‘By the way,’ Lavender added as she dialled the number on the sheet of paper Emilia had just left, ‘Shab, we should have a leaving do for you rather than a work’s Christmas do, seeing as you couldn’t make that. We could put the money Emilia and Simon agreed on to that instead. You’re still finishing for your mat leave after we break up for Christmas?’

‘I think so,’ Shabana said.

‘I thought we could ask Ottilie to come in and join us… Oh, hello, yes, is that the eye department…?’

Lavender gave them a look to say she’d catch them later, and Shabana turned to Zoe. ‘I feel terrible about the timing actually,’ she said as they left Lavender to her call and went towards their rooms. ‘I know Ottilie would have been coming back around then, but I feel as if my leaving is forcing her back to work before she’s ready.’

‘Between you and me, I think she’s ready. She doesn’t want to leave Anthony, of course, but she’s a nurse and a grafter by nature, and I think it’s also driving her mad being at home. And Stacey will be looking after Anthony, so at least Ottilie has someone she absolutely trusts to care for him in her absence, and that’s got to be making her feel easier about returning to work.’

‘So you think she’s all right?’

‘The only problem is the job-share arrangement because of course that can’t be put into place until you’re ready to come back, and that’s a good while yet. But Simon has that in hand. I expect we’ll get another agency nurse for the next few months to help Ottilie. I really wouldn’t worry about it. All you need to focus on is keeping well and getting ready for the birth.’

‘I wish you could deliver for me.’

Zoe smiled. ‘But you’re under the consultant for a reason. You need specialist care, and it’s good that they’re giving you that, especially if there’s a high risk of C section, and the consultant seems to think there is. Don’t worry, you won’t get rid of me that easily. Once you’re home, I’ll be popping in. I can’t wait to meet your little one.’

‘Even if you have to drive all the way out to Cockermouth?’

‘That’s no bother at all for a friend, is it?’

Shabana gave a grateful smile. ‘Thanks, Zoe. I’d better get on.’

‘Me too. I’ll see you at lunch.’

Just as Zoe opened the door to her office, she heard Lavender’s voice in the hallway.

‘By the way, while it’s in my head, I just wanted to tell you that my brother-in-law says they’re having a Santa sailing on his steamer on Ullswater. I thought your Billie might want to take Louisa. The kids love it.’

‘She’s a bit young for that,’ Zoe said doubtfully.

‘But Billie might enjoy it. It’s usually the case, when they’re little, isn’t it? You still do things with them, but it’s about making memories for you more than them because they’re not going to remember it, but you will. And Billie will have photos to show her when she’s older. It’s her first Christmas, after all – you’ve got to make it nice, haven’t you?’

Zoe paused at the door and then nodded brightly, recalling her commitment to do just that. ‘Thanks, Lav. I suppose you have. Maybe Billie will enjoy it; I’ll ask her what she thinks.’

‘And if you decide to go, give me a shout. I’ll see if I can get some VIP tickets for you.’

‘That would be lovely, thanks!’

Zoe went into her office and closed the door. She was still smiling as she sent a brief text to Alex to tell him about Lavender’s offer. He’d talked about wanting to do some nice things for Billie to cheer her up, and this sounded like it could be just the thing.

Zoe had hoped for more festive weather, but the freezing drizzle and the heavy grey skies were about as far from festive as it got. She, Billie and Louisa were standing in a queue of families at the jetty on the lakeside, with children from Louisa’s age to much older – even teenagers laughing self-consciously and pretending they were only there to be random or to please their parents when it was obvious they were enjoying the chance to be little again – all waiting to board the Santa boat. Billie was fussing over Louisa’s hat, pulling it tighter, only to have Louisa yank it loose again every time.

‘She won’t keep this on!’ Billie huffed. ‘And she’ll get cold!’

‘She’ll be all right once we get on board – it’ll be warmer inside the cabin.’