‘It’s not, it’s just…’ There was no point in lying to Ottilie, who knew enough to see through it. ‘I’d have liked the cavalry to have been here for the big event.’
‘You don’t think they will be?’
‘Hard to say, but…well, let’s just hope the roads are clear and one of them was a Formula One driver in a previous life. I could call Emilia or Simon…’
‘Not Simon. I’d hate to go back to work knowing he’s seen more of me than anyone ought to. And Emilia…’ Ottilie grimaced.
‘What?’
‘Nothing…’ Ottilie shook her head. ‘Feeling sick again. It’s fine. Emilia wasn’t exactly hands on when it came to her own sister giving birth. I’m sure she’d come, but would there be any point?’ She shook her head. ‘I’d rather just you.’
‘OK,’ Zoe said briskly. ‘If that’s how you want it, then I suppose we’re going to have to see what we can do between us.’
Ottilie blew out a desperate breath. But before she could answer, they were both distracted by the sight of Flo, chased by Heath, shuffling in with two cups of tea on a tray.
‘Gran!’ Heath chided. ‘I told you not to?—’
‘Zoe told me to make tea!’ Flo interrupted.
‘I did,’ Zoe said, sending Heath a brief look to make him understand. ‘Thanks, Flo. I don’t suppose you could be on lookout at the front door? When the ambulance crew arrive, I could do with them coming straight up.’
‘You think things are that bad?’ Heath paled, and for a moment Zoe wondered if he was in greater danger of passing out than Ottilie was.
‘No, but they’ll have drugs that I don’t carry, and I think it might be a good idea to have them to hand.’
‘You don’t have everything?’ Heath asked, and though it didn’t seem possible, he paled further still.
‘I have what I’m allowed to carry,’ Zoe said. ‘It’ll be enough if it comes to the crunch, but I’d prefer to make it as easy for Ottilie as I can.’
‘Right…’ Heath looked hopelessly at every face in the room. ‘Do you want me to stay?’ he asked Ottilie.
She nodded and held out her hand. ‘Please,’ she choked.
‘Oh God!’ Heath flew to her side. ‘Don’t cry…I’m so sorry!’
‘For what?’ Ottilie sniffed hard.
‘For making you go through this!’
‘Well,’ Zoe said wryly, ‘it’s nice to see a man take ownership of his part in events for a change!’
Ottilie gave her a weak smile as Heath smoothed damp hair from her forehead and bent to kiss it. ‘Isn’t it? I suppose that means I have one of the good ones.’
‘I think it does.’ Zoe turned back to Flo, who was watching the drama unfold so avidly, Zoe wondered whether she ought to offer her a seat and some popcorn. ‘I can leave watching the front door to you then?’
‘Yes!’ Flo said, even then seeming reluctant to leave. ‘Shout if you need more tea!’
‘We will,’ Zoe replied, though it was unlikely anyone would drink the tea she’d just left for them, let alone more.
‘I will have a sip, actually,’ Ottilie said, and Heath rushed to pick up the cup, blowing across the surface to cool it before holding it to her lips.
‘Better?’ he asked.
She nodded but then allowed her head to fall back onto the pillow. ‘I don’t know how much more of this I can do.’
‘Do you think you can nap?’ Zoe asked.
Heath shot her a look of disbelief.
