‘With pleasure.’ Brett carefully transferred the little boy to Zoe’s waiting arms. ‘To look at him, you have to wonder how he’s so heavy.’
‘Wimp!’ Zoe said with a broad smile as she gazed down at the baby. ‘Imagine how poor Georgia feels – she had to carry him for nine months non-stop.’
‘I know, and I’m never going to stop being impressed by that.’ Brett wiped a spot of sick from his shoulder. ‘Can I get you a drink? The kettle’s not long boiled. Tea? Coffee…?’
‘Breast milk?’ Georgia nodded at her pump.
Zoe laughed. ‘I’d hate to deprive William. Tea will be fine, thanks, Brett.’
As Brett went to the kitchen, Zoe took William to the sofa and sat down with him. ‘He gets more gorgeous every time I come over.’ She looked up to see Georgia with a dreamy look on her face.
‘I never thought I could love another human being like I do him. It feels impossible, and yet it’s there. I’d do absolutely anything for that little boy, and I mean anything. Jump into a volcano, swim the Channel…whatever he needed, I’d do it.’
‘I can imagine,’ Zoe said. ‘Is he still being good for you?’
‘Brilliant, perfect. You hear all these horror stories of parents like zombies on two hours’ sleep a night, but he’s been amazing so far. He sleeps for about five, gets up for a feed just before I turn in, goes straight back off then wakes again early hours for another one, then sleeps until six. I can cope with a six o’clock start if I’ve had a decent chunk of sleep beforehand.’
‘You’re lucky.’
‘Don’t think I don’t know it. I remember what everyone told me at the antenatal classes. I’m wondering when the nightmare is going to start because so far I haven’t seen any signs of it. Not that I’m wishing for things to get harder, of course. I’m perfectly happy to get off so lightly.’
‘You all seem content,’ Zoe said, watching as William’s mouth pursed in his sleep, as if he was dreaming of his next feed. ‘Especially this little one. You’re definitely doing something right.’
‘We are.’ Georgia turned off her pump. ‘I think that’s about it. So…’ she added as she rearranged her top, ‘how’s life up the hill?’
‘Oh, the same as it was when I saw you last week. Apart from…’
Zoe paused. She hadn’t intended to come and offload about her dad, but now that she was here, and Georgia was so calm and relaxed, it felt like it would be OK. Georgia would find out sooner or later, and she’d probably ask why Zoe hadn’t said somethingearlier – after all, she was acquainted with Zoe’s parents, given she and Zoe had been childhood friends. Then again…Her gaze went back to baby William. Georgia had enough to think about.
‘OK.’ Zoe looked up again to see Georgia regarding her with a frank question. ‘I see that face you’re pulling.’
Zoe shook her head, affecting a laugh. ‘What face?’
‘Out with it. Something’s upset you and you want to talk about it, but you think I’m not up to listening. I am. In fact, please give me some grown-up conversation to take my mind off expressing milk and changing nappies, ortalking aboutexpressing milk and changing nappies. Give me something more challenging to my intellect, please!’
‘You’re sure?’
‘Yes! How many times have you had my back since I got here? When I was going through all that with…’ Georgia’s head flicked to the doorway Brett had just gone through. Flushing ever so slightly, she tucked a flame-red lock behind her ear. ‘Well, you know. Life was far from settled when we first came to Thimblebury, and you were the only person I could turn to. So I want to repay the favour. What’s eating you?’
Zoe drew in a long breath. And then let it out before beginning, words tumbling out with such cutting honesty that afterwards she wished she’d kept a tighter hold on them. ‘So my dad is remarrying. His girlfriend Chantal, who’s younger than I am. And she’s pregnant. And I dread the phone call from my mum about it because she’s going to lose her mind. I haven’t even told Alex this, or Ottilie, or anyone, but you asked, and if I don’t say something real about it, I’m going to explode! I know I’m supposed to be pleased for my dad, and I told him I was happy about it because he’s so happy about it, but I’m not. I don’t want him to marry Chantal. I hate that she’s pregnant – and I know that makes me such a horrible person, but I can’t help it. I…’ Zoe’s eyes misted, even as she fought to keep thetears at bay. She wouldn’t let them fall because they weren’t tears of sadness or even recognition of her own failings, but of bitterness and anger at a situation she couldn’t control, one that she knew she had no right to resent but resented nonetheless.
Georgia got up and took William from her.
‘I’m all right,’ Zoe said, holding out her arms to take him back.
‘I think you need to cry,’ Georgia said. ‘I’m taking William so you can.’
‘I don’t need?—’
At that moment, Brett came back with their drinks. Halting at the doorway, his suddenly wary gaze flicked from one to the other. ‘Have I walked in on something? Because I can?—’
‘Not at all,’ Zoe said, forcing a bright smile as she sniffed hard. ‘I was telling Georgia about my dad. He’s getting married.’
‘Oh.’ Brett placed the mugs of tea on the occasional table. ‘And that’s good?’
‘Yes, of course,’ Zoe said. ‘His girlfriend is pregnant, so they thought they’d make it official. They’re looking at next month, actually.’
‘What?’ Georgia gaped. ‘Next month! Seriously?’
