Flo wagged a finger at Billie, and Zoe was tempted to warn her not to because if she wagged it too close, Billie might grab it and try to snap it off. Zoe had to admit the thought had crossedher own mind, and if not for keeping Flo on side for Ottilie’s sake, she would certainly have given Flo what for by now.
‘That family…they’ve always been scroungers. I suppose you can’t expect the apple to fall far from the?—’
‘Flo…’ Zoe cut in, and now there was a discreet warning in her tone. ‘I’m sure Maisie will have a conversation with Ezra’s dad when she’s ready. She’s nobody’s fool, despite what people around here might say. As for scrounging, if you’d been inside their house, you’d see that whatever they’rescroungingis hardly keeping them in the lap of luxury.’
‘All I’m saying is someone will have to keep that little boy.’
‘I know, and I’m glad to see you worrying about it, but you don’t have to. Ezra will be just fine, and Maisie will make sure she gives him whatever he needs, one way or another. She’s a mum now, and you must remember how that changes you.’
‘Oh yes,’ Flo said, instantly softening as she seemed to go into the past. ‘How can you forget that first time you have them in your arms?’ She smiled at Louisa, who was still fast asleep with her chubby face pressed against Billie’s chest. ‘Enjoy her being like this, my love. It goes so fast. Before you know it, they’re getting married and running off to Manchester and you’ll barely see them.’ She straightened up and whatever misty-eyed recollection she’d been lost in had evaporated and practical, spiky Flo was back. ‘Have you been to the shop?’
‘Just.’
‘Did they have my cheddar in? They haven’t had it in months and they keep saying they’re going to. I can’t think what’s happening…I expect Geoff is losing his marbles finally. Hardly surprising, considering what he has to put up with?—’
‘I didn’t notice,’ Zoe said. ‘Maybe you should call in and ask.’
‘That’s where I was going before you stopped me.’
Zoe had to bite hard to keep the grin from her face. ‘Sorry about that. We’ll let you get on.’
Without another word, Flo went on her way.
Billie turned to Zoe as they began to walk again. ‘How does Ottilie put up with her? She’s a total nightmare!’
‘She’s old. So old, she might have got to the age where she reckons she’s earned the right to say anything she wants.’
‘I don’t care how old someone is, they can’t go around roasting other people…It’s not Maisie’s fault her boyfriend dumped her when she got pregnant.’
‘I know, and really Flo does too. She’s just of that generation.’
‘The miserable generation?’
‘One with different values from ours. She means well.’
‘If you say so. The thing is, she’s the same age as Victor and Corrine…’
‘They’re a bit younger, but?—’
‘But sort of, and they’re not like that. They’re lovely, and they don’t judge anyone. They’ve even got Fern living with them. Imagine Fern going to Flo for help – she’d have her arrested or something.’
Zoe had to laugh now. ‘You might be right about that. But Ottilie is friends with Flo, so she can’t be all bad.’
‘I don’t know how she’s friends with her. I don’t know how anyone can be. I suppose Ottilie doesn’t have a choice because Flo is Heath’s gran.’
‘Ottilie was friends with her before she started to date Heath.’
‘Then Ottilie wants her head looking at. I thought she was normal, but I must be wrong.’
Zoe’s laughter grew. ‘If she’s not normal, and she’s one of my best friends, I don’t know what that says about me.’
8
Alex was pacing the kitchen in tight circles as he rammed a slice of toast into his mouth and chewed rapidly. Zoe caught another two as they popped up from the toaster and took them to the table.
‘You’re making me giddy. Sit down – walking up and down won’t make you eat any faster.’
‘Too much to do,’ he mumbled through a mouthful of pulpy bread.
