Eventually, she was saved the decision by the woman coming back out, this time with Fern at her side.
Zoe gave her a bright smile. ‘Sorry to bother you like this, but I just thought I’d call to see if you were all right.’
‘I’m fine. I had…’ Fern glanced uncertainly at the woman. ‘I was worried about something, but Arwen has sorted it out for me. I should have phoned to let you know I wasn’t coming, but I got sidetracked.’
Zoe tried not to let her suspicion show. ‘I see. I’m here now if there’s anything you want to ask me.’
‘She just said it’s sorted, didn’t she?’ the woman replied. ‘I know what I’m doing – I’ve delivered half a dozen babies here over the years.’
‘I’m sure you do. I’m not trying to step on anyone’s toes; my only concern is for Fern, just like yours is.’ Zoe turned to Fern. ‘So you don’t need me?’
‘No. Thanks anyway.’
Zoe gave her a discreet once-over. She looked well enough. She was definitely cleaner than Arwen – because Zoe had now decided the woman with the long grey hair was the commune mum she’d been told about – and she was dressed appropriately for the weather. A bit nervy, but without seeing overt signs of maltreatment, Zoe could hardly get the authorities in. Still, she did wonder whether to alert social services, just so the commune could be on their radar. She didn’t like doing that behind Fern’sback, but if she had to upset a few people to be sure Fern was safe, then she would.
‘Well,’ Zoe said, deciding there was nothing more she could do here, ‘if you don’t need me, then I’ll be off. You have my phone number…’ she added, glancing from one to the other. ‘Both of you. I’m happy for you to call whenever you need to, even if it’s just to run something by me or get a bit of advice. Don’t hesitate to call – I won’t mind.’
‘That’s very generous of you,’ Arwen said stiffly.
As she turned to go, she heard high-pitched laughter coming from the house, and a second later two children raced out, giggling and squealing, their hands caked in mud.
‘Arwen, Arwen!’ they cried, running over to her. ‘Look, worms!’
Zoe smiled, the only genuine one she’d worn the entire time she’d been there. They looked happy, looked after and loved, and, apart from the mud, reasonably clean. Perhaps Zoe was seeing trouble that wasn’t there. Perhaps there was no need to worry about Fern here. She supposed the commune could just be deeply private, happier to keep the outside world away. There was, after all, a reason it had been set up in the first place and a reason people came here to live.
As she walked back to her car, her head was bowed in thought. She’d have to decide what to do when she’d had time to reflect on what she’d seen here. It was one of her more unusual cases, and alarm bells were ringing, but it wouldn’t be the first time Zoe had been wrong.
She was still deep in thought when she got into the car and started the engine but was shaken out of it by her phone ringing. Fully expecting it to be Lavender, tearing a strip off her for being so late back to surgery, she frowned slightly as she noticed that the caller ID wasn’t showing the surgery’s number but Chantal’s. It was strange because she couldn’t remember the last time herdad’s girlfriend had called her directly. Whatever interaction they had usually happened via her dad, or else on the rare occasion they were forced together at a family function or visit.
‘Chantal… how are you?’
‘Oh, I’m fine! How are you?’
‘Good…’ Zoe said carefully. ‘I’m at work, actually, so…’
‘Yes, sorry, I won’t keep you. I was wondering…I was wondering if you’d be one of my bridesmaids…’
Zoe sucked in a breath. Given the drama she’d endured with her mum over the weekend, what the hell was she supposed to say to this? There was no way she could have any part of this wedding, other than to be there, and even that was pushing it in Cherie’s eyes. She’d told her mum she’d decline, but it wasn’t so easy now, faced with the hope in Chantal’s voice.
‘I’m so sorry, but I don’t—’ she began, but Chantal cut in.
‘You will, won’t you? I mean, we’re almost related, aren’t we? At least, we will be. Like sisters, you know.’
Not like sisters. Not at all…Try insanely confusing mother–daughter vibe instead…
‘I mean,’ Chantal continued, ‘I’m not sure it’s sisters exactly. I don’t know how it works, but I feel like you’re my big sister. You were so nice to me when I started going out with your dad – the only person who was, really. It would mean so much to me.’
Zoe looked back at the farmhouse she’d just come from and let a sigh curl into the cold air. ‘I wish I could say yes, but…well, it’s awkward. You understand, don’t you?’
‘I suppose I did wonder, but I thought I should ask, you know, just so you wouldn’t feel I was overlooking you. Especially because we weren’t asking your brother to be best man.’
‘Dad’s not asking Tom?’
‘He’s asked my brother. He didn’t think Tom would want to do it.’
Zoe imagined that Tom would have the same reaction to being asked as she had, but she also imagined he would have liked the opportunity to say no.
‘We also wondered if you would join us for lunch at the weekend? We’re coming over to see the vicar at St Cuthbert’s. Nigel thought it would be a good time to catch up and for him to meet Alex. Do you know anywhere we could go to eat?’
