‘I know that, but now he’s gone…Don’t laugh, I’m being serious!’
‘I love that you are, but I don’t see why it’s suddenly an issue. There’s all the time in the world, isn’t there? Dad will come over at Christmas and birthdays and that sort of thing over the next few years, and you’ll get to know him then. I doubt you’ll have time to go off playing golf once this place gets busy anyway…’ She angled her head at the collection of clapboard huts gathered around a clearing.
‘You might be right about that. We can hope, can’t we? Thanks for this, by the way. I don’t know if I’ve said it, but you’ve been amazing.’
‘We’re a team now, right?’
‘I like to think so, but at the end of the day, you have your own job to do. I’d hate to think you’re overdoing it on my account.’
Zoe held back a frown. ‘Overdoing it?’
‘Well, you’ve been a bit…you know. You haven’t been well all the time lately, have you? And I hope that’s not down to me and Billie making so many demands on you because?—’
‘It’s not. Anyway, I’m fine, it was only a couple of weird episodes. I told you, it was probably postural hypotension or something.’
‘Well, what causes that?’ he asked, and Zoe baulked at the worry in his voice. She needed to give him more than she had so far because of course he would worry. She’d be the same if the tables were turned. But she couldn’t give him more, not yet, not until she knew more.
She waved a vague hand. ‘Honestly, I might just have got up too quickly. There are all sorts of reasons that aren’t particularly serious. Stop worrying – I’m fit as a flea.’
‘You promise? If there was something, you’d tell me?’
‘Yes. But there’s nothing to tell. Oh!’ She huffed as her cart got stuck on a tuft of wild grass. ‘I think we ought to take the path next time, no matter how much further it is. This as-the-crow-flies business has definitely backfired on us.’
‘Sorry about that. It seemed like a good idea at the time.’
‘We live and learn…’ She squinted at the horizon. ‘What are those? Next to the toilet block?’
‘Oh, they’re our newest guests. Rabbits! I saw them myself a couple of days ago. Looks like they’ve moved in.’
‘They’re so adorable! They have babies too!’
‘I thought they only came out at dusk, but those guys are brazen – they don’t seem to care what time it is! They are very cute, though. I hope the guests don’t scare them off when we getour first lot; it would be a shame. The kids will love seeing them around the campsite.’
‘Never mind the kids, I love seeing them! They won’t be a problem, though? I mean diseases and things?’
‘I thought the same, but I mentioned it to Victor and he said not to worry. After all, there must be all sorts living out here, and you can’t go around stressing about all of it. He says as long as people aren’t taking them into their accommodation or anything daft like that, it’ll be all right.’
‘I suppose so. He must be very clued-up on that sort of thing.’
‘That’s what I thought. I’ll probably take some advice on what to look out for and be vigilant. Victor gave me the number for someone locally who’s an expert on this sort of thing.’
‘I don’t know what we’d do without him and Corrine.’
‘Nobody knows what Thimblebury in general would do without Victor and Corrine.’
As they arrived at the clearing, the ground became more even. Alex stopped and surveyed the buildings.
Zoe glanced up to see him smiling. ‘You really do love them, don’t you?’
‘It’s exactly what I was hoping for. If our guests love it, that’s the main thing.’
‘They are cute,’ Zoe agreed. ‘Like little hobbit houses.’
‘That was the idea. We’d better make a start, or we’re going to be up here until it gets dark.’
Zoe followed him and watched as he opened up the first pod. He turned to her, his smile growing brighter. ‘That smell…it’s gorgeous.’
‘New wood and fresh air. It is lovely. Maybe we should move into one of these and let Billie have Hilltop to herself.’
