‘Yeah, I forgot.’
‘Anything I can help with?’
Zoe looked up and shook her head. ‘It’s fine; it’ll wait.’
‘Simon’s got ten minutes free if you?—’
‘Really, it’s not that urgent. Emilia’s back tomorrow, right?’
‘Unless they strike her off today…’ Lavender fired back with a grin.
‘Good morning!’ Shabana arrived before Lavender could say anything else, arms filled with cling-wrapped parcels.
‘Morning, love!’ Lavender leaped up to take some of the burden from her. ‘What’s in here?’
‘Dinner…You said it was my turn.’
‘Blimey, were you thinking you had to feed the five thousand?’
‘Huh?’
‘You know, because there’s so much here. There’s only five people working here…Actually, four today because we’re one down.’
‘Yes, I know…’ Shabana blew a hair away from her forehead. ‘We got a bit carried away chatting and, before you know it, we’d fried about a hundred samosas.’
‘You and your mum made them?’ Zoe asked.
‘Mother-in-law. I know I’m supposed to say my mum is the best thing ever, but the sad fact is, she’s not much of a cook, not in comparison to my husband’s mum, who’s amazing. Waituntil you taste these and you’ll see what I mean.’ She lowered her voice with a wicked grin. ‘Honestly, I wouldn’t dare bring them in if my mum had made them.’
Lavender laughed. ‘Shabana! I might have to tell your mum what you said!’
‘It’s nothing I haven’t said to her face, and she’d probably agree.’
‘I’d better get on.’ Zoe followed them down the corridor. ‘I’ve got a very full list today. I’ll see you at lunch if not before.’
‘Don’t eat too many biscuits this morning because there’s plenty to go around, and I need you to be hungry!’ Shabana called as she went into the kitchen.
‘I won’t!’ Zoe called back.
She was thoughtful as she opened up her office, and thankfully, it wasn’t about her own problems. Shabana seemed to be in a very good mood. She didn’t know their locum nurse all that well yet, but she’d come to recognise a certain melancholy in her. She knew Shabana and her husband had been trying for a baby and that they had embarked on IVF. Zoe wondered silently if there had been some promising movement on that. Shabana hadn’t said anything, and she certainly hadn’t announced a pregnancy, but Zoe understood that often couples in their position wanted to be sure and a lot further down the line before they started to tell people. Perhaps Shabana was being just as cautious – it would certainly fit what Zoe knew of her personality. If it was good news, then Zoe was glad. She resolved to drop some kind of hint to let Shabana know she could confide in her if she felt it would help, but she wouldn’t push it.
Her office door opened, and Lavender poked her head round. ‘Want a coffee? Is it a two-scoop-special kind of day?’
‘What makes you say that? Do I look tired?’
‘No, but you had an extra busy one yesterday, didn’t you? I just wondered if you might need some extra jet fuel to get through today with less stress.’
‘I’m all right. A normal coffee would be lovely, thanks.’
Lavender gave a short nod and then left her again.
Zoe stared into space as her computer whirred into life. Had she really been that useless? More to the point, had it been that noticeable to everyone?
Her thoughts were interrupted by the arrival of a text to her phone.
I’m sorry but Mum says can you come early because she has a good feeling about the bingo and she wants to go, but she has to be here to get the door when you come because I’m still all wobbly. X
Despite everything, Zoe had to grin. Maisie and her family…Zoe had never known a family like them. She was very fond of Maisie, but she’d always been cautious around the rest of them, even more after being faced with animosity from her mum, but she couldn’t help being entertained by them. She was even developing a strange kind of affection for Bridget, which made absolutely no sense at all.
