“Yes, we will do just that. Don’t worry, if he ever causes you to get upset come to me, and I’ll give him a good telling off. He needs it often, you know.”
Zoe couldn’t help smiling. “I know.”
She glanced at her mom and noticed a change in her expression.Maybe she was coming back around toward Max.
“I’ll buy this one for you,” said Helen.
“No, it’s fine,” Zoe said quickly. Money was tight, but it was tighter for Helen. Zoe had been saving for a deposit on a house, but since that wasn’t going to happen, and now only doing a little work from home for her old firm, she was spending her savings.
“I insist.”
Zoe sensed how much joy this was giving Helen. So, she decided to let this one go. “Just this once.”
“Pfft.” Helen grinned. She elbowed Kate. “Show her the other dress you found.”
Zoe managed to stop herself from rolling her eyes. This had also been part of the routine this afternoon. All three of them were finding maternity clothes for her to wear. Between them they had already picked out an outfit she could wear for the baby shower they were now planning for late March next year. There was a lovely dress for when she came home from hospital with the baby. They also had her get some clothes suited for breastfeeding. Zoe’s mind spun from how much she was learning about having a baby, and it was all through buying clothes. She was struggling to keep up with the information overload.
Kate held up a dress. It was a white, baby doll style, with open red rose pattern on it. Zoe had to admit it looked beautiful. Something she would wear if she was living in the city, but not the farm.
“I love it. But don’t you think it’s a bit fancy?”
“For Christmas? No way. We dress up for the day,” said Kate.
“Okay.” Zoe took the dress, but she was still hesitating. She had planned to be conservative with spending today, but these women weren’t helping. At all.
“Try it on and see,” suggested Helen.
Zoe slipped back into the change room, and took off the jeans and top, slipping the dress on over her head. She twirled around, looking at herself in the mirror. This was more like the clothes she was used to wearing. She loved it.
“Let’s see,” called out her mom.
She was relieved how well her mom was getting along with Helen and Kate now, and vice versa. She didn’t like being told what to do. But wearing this dress, somehow made her feel better, like she could bring a part of her city self to the farm and it be all right to do so. Zoe stepped out to show them.
“You have to get it,” said Helen straight away.
“You do,” stated her mom.
“Yep,” Kate reassured.
“I’ll get it, but I’m buying this one myself,” said Zoe firmly. She braced herself for an argument and wasn’t surprised when she got one.
“No. I insist,” said Helen.
Suddenly, Zoe felt unsteady on her feet.
She felt the world sway to the left, then to the right.
The voices from Helen and Leanne arguing sounded distant as she blinked a few times.
“Are you okay?” Kate moved toward her.
Zoe wasn’t feeling well, and she didn’t know why. She was about to lie and say she was fine, hoping that this sensation would go away, but then the room spun fast and she was falling.
“Zoe, thank goodness,” her mom spoke softly nearby.
Zoe eyes fluttered open. She wasn’t sure why she was on the floor in the change rooms. The fluorescent lights above hurt her eyes, and she moved her arm to cover her face. There was something soft under her head.
“An ambulance is on its way,” said Kate.
