‘He should know.’
‘Probably. But I’d appreciate it if you didn’t say anything to him.’
Billie shook her head. ‘It’s stupid.’
‘Maybe. I’m allowed to be stupid sometimes, aren’t I?’
‘He’ll be upset.’
‘Not if there’s nothing wrong and nothing to be upset about. If I can spare him the worry, I’d rather. I’ll deal with the rest if I have to later on.’
‘I still say you should tell him.’
‘You’re probably right, but…I’ll give it some thought. Let’s see what the next few days bring – I can’t help but feel we’ve got more urgent things to worry about. Your first guests will be arriving, and I don’t want to distract your dad from that.’
‘He’s excited about that.’
‘I know, and he should be. It’s an exciting time. He’s?—’
From Zoe’s bag came the muffled sound of her phone pinging. She stopped to dig it out. ‘One of my mums,’ she said, opening up the message. After reading it quickly, she dropped the phone back into her bag and carried on.
‘Who was it?’ Billie asked.
‘Oh, I don’t think you know her. She’s been really ill and in hospital, but she’s home now. What was I saying before?’
Billie opened her mouth to reply but was cut short by someone hailing them both from across the street. Zoe shot a knowing grin at Billie, who simply gave an exasperated sigh.
‘Hello, Flo…’
The old woman tottered over and made straight for Louisa, putting her face closer than was polite to get a better look. ‘She doesn’t look like you so much now, does she?’ she said, turning her attention to Billie.
‘She does have two parents,’ Zoe said, ‘so…’
‘Anthony’s the living image of Heath,’ Flo said. ‘There’s no mistaking whohisdaddy is.’
Zoe couldn’t hold back her clipped reply, though she instantly wished she’d been able to. ‘There wouldn’t be anyway.’
‘No, of course not. I didn’t mean anything by it.’ Flo turned back to Louisa. ‘Is she sleeping through yet? Anthony is. He’s an angel for Ottilie. Such a bonny thing, so happy.’
That wasn’t what Zoe had heard, but this time she bit back her reply. Flo was a doting great-grandmother, and if she wanted to think Anthony was the best baby who had ever lived, then who was Zoe to disabuse her?
‘I thought he had colic,’ Billie said.
Flo let out a derisive snort. ‘Colic? I’ve seen worse than that in my time. He’s a bit fussy now and then, but it’s hardly the drama some people make it out to be.’
‘Ottilie is not normally one to overreact,’ Zoe replied, unable to help herself.
‘Yes, but she’s not herself at the moment. Have you seen young Maisie? She’s had her baby, hasn’t she?’
‘A boy,’ Zoe said, glad of the chance to change the subject. ‘Ezra.’
‘All these old names coming back,’ Flo said. ‘I suppose there’s no sign of his dad, is there? Does Maisie even know where he is?’
‘It’s none of my business.’ Zoe shot a glance at Billie, who looked as if she might be revving up for a confrontation on Maisie’s behalf. ‘It’s nobody’s business but Maisie’s and her ex, for that matter,’ she concluded firmly.
‘Maisie doesn’t want that loser around,’ Billie added. ‘Better to have no dad than a dad like that.’
‘But who’s going to be paying for the upkeep of that baby with no daddy to give his share?Us, that’s who! You and me and everyone else who pays taxes…’
