‘Arwen seems to know a lot about it. What’s her background?’
‘I don’t know. I think she worked in a shop before she came to live with us.’
‘Right. Have you discussed it with anyone other than Arwen?’
‘Not really.’
‘Not even with the baby’s dad?’
‘I’m not sure who that is. It could be Zephyr or Ash because I slept with both of them the same week. Both of them would be all right with whatever Arwen said, though. Everyone trusts her.’
Zoe tried not to let Lavender’s joke about candlelit orgies into her mind as she gave a non-committal nod. It was none of her business anyway. ‘Frankly…’ she began again, still wondering how to tackle this. In all her years of midwifery, she’d never once had an expectant mum come to her and tell her they didn’t want her help. Usually they’d want all the help they could get, and even when they were less keen, they’d see the sense in being under her care. ‘I’m not happy about the situation at all. I’m sure Arwen is capable, and I’m sure you’re young and strong, but as a midwife with a lot of years under her belt, I can’t condone the plan. I’m not here to force you to do anything you’re unhappy with, though. It’s your body, your baby, your life. What I would ask is that we continue with our preliminary checks today. You’re here anyway, so I don’t see why there would be any harm in it. I’ll get the ball rolling on the necessary arrangements for you – ultrasound, blood tests and such – and if you want to go ahead with those, then everything will be in place. If you don’t, then please come and talk to me again. I won’t try to change your mind, but I would like to see that you’re well and good to go. And if you decide on the free birth route, don’t think you can’t ever come back to me if things start to go awry. Seemingly easy pregnancies can take a turn for the worse, and I’d hate to think you didn’t feel you could come for my advice. The same goes for Arwen. If she needs advice from me at any point, should shebecome your midwife, then she’s more than welcome to contact me.’
‘I’ll tell Arwen, but I don’t think she’ll need anything.’
Zoe couldn’t have given two hoots what Arwen needed, but she did care about Fern, and the idea that Fern wouldn’t have professional involvement in her pregnancy worried her. She couldn’t say that, however, and she certainly couldn’t show it. She had to give a measured response to the request and hope that Fern would choose the best path for her and her baby.
‘I’m sure you’re right, but the offer is there just the same, and I’d be grateful if you’d tell her so. I’ll give you my personal number, and you can keep it in case you need me. So, can I do my checks today? Are you happy with my plan?’
Fern nodded and took off her coat. Zoe could see she was very slim, and it didn’t help with her misgivings. She had a feeling when it came to medical aids, essential vitamin supplements and the like, she was going to have another battle on her hands convincing Fern to embrace any of them. For now, she concentrated on the most pressing one, and that was to convince Fern to accept any help from her at all. Arwen was clearly a persuasive individual, and perhaps she was capable of caring for Fern through her pregnancy, but Zoe wasn’t happy about it, not one bit.
As Zoe saw Fern out, still trying to subtly influence her decision even as she waved her off, Lavender caught her attention. Standing at the desk was a pretty, dark-eyed woman of about thirty or so.
‘You’re just in time to meet our new nurse!’ Lavender beckoned Zoe over. ‘Shabana, this is Zoe, our midwife.’
Zoe smiled. ‘Pleased to meet you!’
‘You too. Lavender was just telling me very nice things about you.’
‘Was she?’ Zoe shot the receptionist a sideways look. ‘Well, there’s a turn-up for the books.’
Shabana laughed politely at Zoe’s quip while Lavender grinned.
‘Don’t worry,’ she said, ‘I’ll get to the bad stuff when Shabana’s settled in. Don’t want to scare her off – the patients will do a good-enough job of that.’
A frail but assertive voice came from the waiting area. ‘How rude! I ought to report you, Lavender!’
Lavender’s grin spread, and she lowered her voice. ‘Mrs Icke. Our oldest patient. Claims to be deaf as a post but hears well enough when it suits her. You’re lucky she’s in to see Doctor Stokes today, so you won’t have the pleasure just yet.’
‘I’m looking forward to meeting them all,’ Shabana said.
Lavender’s reply was full of sarcasm. ‘I’m sure it will be a riot. Well, Zoe, I’m going to show Shabana around, so you can push off now.’
Shabana looked as if she wasn’t sure how she was meant to react to Lavender’s statement, but Zoe simply smiled. ‘Right, that’s told me. I’ve got mums to see anyway. I’ll catch up with you at lunch, Shabana.’
‘I look forward to it.’
Shabana followed Lavender behind the reception desk while Zoe turned to the waiting room to call her next appointment through.
6
Emilia didn’t come to the kitchen to join them for lunch. Ordinarily, that would have been no surprise because since her arrival a few months previously, she’d expressed her belief that the surgery shouldn’t close so that everyone could eat together, and though tensions in that regard had softened somewhat since her first day, her stance hadn’t changed. Today, with their new locum nurse joining them, Zoe had wondered whether Emilia would show her face just to get to know her a little. However, it didn’t seem as if she saw any reason to treat Shabana differently to anyone else at the surgery when it came to her views on their shared mealtime.
‘At least Simon has come in.’ Lavender lifted the foil from a chicken pie, speaking to Zoe in a voice that Zoe presumed she’d meant to be low but was still loud enough for everyone in the room to hear. If he felt uncomfortable in the situation, Simon didn’t show it, and perhaps Shabana didn’t recognise the barbed remark because she simply smiled amiably at everyone.
‘That smells good,’ Simon said. He turned to Shabana. ‘Lavender makes amazing chicken-and-leek pie.’
‘Oh…’ Shabana’s smile faltered. ‘I’m so sorry, I can’t eat that. I’m a vegetarian. I’d have said, but I didn’t realise we’d be eating lunch like this. I have something in the car…I’ll go and get it.’
