‘Hmm, so she’s not going to like me very much in a minute,’ Zoe said.
‘I suppose you want a cup of tea…’ Flo added as she disappeared into the kitchen. ‘Not that I have time to make tea for all and sundry when I’ve got all this other work to do…’
‘I’m fine for tea,’ Zoe said. ‘Don’t worry, get on with…whatever it is you’re doing.’
She pushed the living-room door open and found Ottilie in her pyjamas, stretched out on the sofa with baby Anthony lying on her chest. Her sandy hair – usually glossy and neat, was pulled into a loose bun, the odd flyaway escaping to cling to her face.
‘Hey…’ she whispered in a voice that still sounded weak. ‘I was just trying to get him off…think I might finally have managed it.’
‘Flo told me, but I might have to wake him.’
‘Really?’
‘I’ll give it as long as I can, but I do need to do his checks. And he needs his vitamin K, which is bound to wake him.’ Zoe sat down on the chair across from her. ‘How are you feeling? I see you have help.’
‘Flo?’ Ottilie rolled her eyes. ‘Yes, she’s been here a lot – and don’t I know it!’
‘Where’s Heath?’
‘Popped out for cake. He seems to think I need an endless supply of cake for some reason. And crisps and chocolate and anything else Magnus and Geoff can get in.’
‘I’m surprised Corrine hasn’t been down yet with enough cake to bury you. I know she’s dying to see the baby.’
‘I’m surprised Heath hasn’t been up to ask her for some. Corrine did call, bless her. I was asleep and Flo answered the phone, so I think that might be why she hasn’t been to visit yet.’
‘Flo’s doing her guard dog act?’
‘Something like that. She’s almost certainly put herself in charge of security around here.’
‘I don’t think she really wanted to let me in, come to think of it. Are you coping with her?’
‘Yes…’ Ottilie gave a small smile. ‘She’s only trying to be useful, and Anthony is her great-grandson, after all. Like she keeps telling us, not many women get to meet their great-grandsons, so she’s bound to want to spend time with him. She also keeps telling us that we have to let her because she could be dead any time now, so…’
Zoe let out a chuckle. ‘Let’s hope not. Is she even going home at all?’
‘If she has, I don’t seem to have noticed.’
‘Apart from that, and Heath trying to feed you up to begin sumo wrestling, everything else is OK? You’re feeling better? Nothing worrying you, health-wise?’
‘I’m tired a lot, but that’s to be expected, isn’t it? A bit sore, sick of being in my nightie all day but too exhausted to do much about it…Other than that, I’m dandy.’
‘Well, it seems as if you’re being well cared for, so that’s something. With all this fuss you ought to be up and about in no time. Don’t push it, though.’ Zoe wagged a finger at her friend. ‘I know you. You won’t want to bother people, and you’ll feel as if you ought to be doing everything yourself.’
‘There’s not much danger of that at the moment, trust me. And the way I feel right now, I’m happy to take all the help I can get. I don’t know when I last felt so wrung out.’
‘It was a tough birth – it’s only natural. As long as you recognise that and take the rest you need.’
Flo burst in with a tray. On it were two mugs of tea almost as black as the road outside and a plate of garibaldi biscuits.
‘Here…’ She put the tray down on the low table next to Ottilie. ‘You said you wanted one.’
‘Thanks, Flo,’ Ottilie said.
Flo stood back, arms folded as she regarded Zoe and Ottilie like they were a huge, demanding drain on her resources. ‘Anything else?’
‘Oh, no, thanks, Flo.’ Ottilie gestured for her to sit down.
‘I haven’t got time for that,’ Flo replied sharply. ‘The kitchen cupboards need cleaning…’
