There was a rap at the window, and Zoe looked up to see Billie outside with Louisa in her sling and Grizzle on his lead. She held up a cool bag, and Alex gave her a thumbs up. He grinned as he went to open the door for her.
‘I suppose I ought to be glad you were so sensible,’ he said to Zoe in a low voice.
‘Call me psychic,’ Zoe said.
‘I do, and I’m going to make sure I listen to you in the future.’
He stepped back to let Billie in. Grizzle bounded after her, and Alex grimaced as she noticed the mud on his paws.
‘Sorry,’ Billie said. ‘Griz! Sit down!’
Grizzle ignored her, but Alex simply shrugged as he took the bag from Billie. ‘I don’t suppose I can be mad as you’ve brought us goodies. Even if we do now have to mop the floor.’
‘No,’ Billie said. ‘Anyway, you’ve always been too soft with him, so it’s no wonder he never listens to anyone.’
Alex grinned at Zoe as he offered her a sandwich. ‘So that’s told me, hasn’t it?’
7
‘We’ve got those welcome packs made up for Alex’s pods if you want to take them today.’ Magnus came from the back room of the store carrying a mug of freshly made coffee. There was no mistaking it; the aroma was so good, it had to be one of Magnus and Geoff’s artisan brands that they only stocked for themselves because everyone else thought it was far too expensive to buy.
‘I’ll let Alex know, if that’s all right.’ Zoe headed to the counter while Billie, with Louisa in her papoose, went to the fridges. ‘He’ll come down in the car and settle up with you from the business account. Will tomorrow be OK, or are you desperate to get them out of the way?’
‘Tomorrow will be fine, my love.’ Magnus put down his coffee and beamed at Billie as she came to the counter with her groceries. ‘Aww, Louisa is growing up so fast! Look, her eyes are everywhere already, taking it all in. She’s going to be a curious one!’
‘She’s moving a bit too,’ Zoe said. ‘She’s trying to roll off her changing mat all the time now. Can’t quite manage it yet, but I don’t think she’ll take long. She’ll be an early walker, I’m sure of it.’
‘You’ll need to have eyes behind you,’ Magnus said with a laugh.
‘You mean in the back of your head…’ Geoff’s voice came from the rear of the shop, and a second later, he followed Magnus through with a coffee of his own. ‘Eyes in the back of your head is how the saying goes.’
Magnus waved the correction impatiently away. ‘Yes, that’s what I meant. I’d like to see how many Icelandic sayings you know.’
‘I don’t live in Iceland, so I don’t need to know any,’ Geoff said archly, and Zoe tried not to laugh; she always found their bickering funny.
‘Disrespectful of my culture, that’s what you are,’ Magnus fired back.
Geoff didn’t seem at all bothered as he sipped at his coffee. He smiled at Billie. ‘She is a poppet, isn’t she? You’ll be taking her to the parent and baby group soon? She’s about ready to mix with the other kiddies now, isn’t she?’
Billie took an instinctive step back. ‘I don’t want her to catch anything while she’s still so little.’
‘Some germs build strength,’ Magnus said. ‘At home, we put our babies out in the cold to toughen them up.’
Billie’s reaction was one of mild alarm, but it was also tinged with scepticism.
‘It’s true,’ Magnus added, reading it to perfection. ‘They’re wrapped up, of course, and in their prams, but the cold air is good for their lungs.’
‘I’ve actually heard that before,’ Zoe said to Billie.
‘I’m not leaving Louisa outside in the cold,’ Billie said. ‘I don’t care if you told me or not.’
Zoe nodded her agreement. ‘I’m sure that sort of tradition is fine, but if it’s all the same to you, I won’t be recommending it to any of the mums in my care.’
‘I don’t blame you,’ Geoff said. He turned back to Billie. ‘You’re looking well too. Is she a good girl for you?’
‘She’s fine,’ Billie said. ‘She only cries when she’s hungry.’
‘Not like poor Ottilie with her little one then,’ Geoff said. ‘She was in here the other day, wasn’t she, Magnus? Looked about done in. She says Anthony never stops fussing.’
