‘There’s nothing to do – you’re ready. The guests aren’t coming until two – that’s six hours away.’
‘Need to go down to the field to make sure the pathways are clear.’
‘They will be.’
‘It rained last night.’
‘Hardly at all.’ Zoe buttered another slice and held it out to him. ‘Sit down, please. Your stress is catching, and I’d rather not start the day stressed.’
He went to the table and took the toast from her. His backside hit the chair for a second, and then he got up again. ‘It’s no good. I’ll take Grizzle over; he needs a walk anyway, andI won’t be able to take him that way much from now on. Griz! Here, boy!’
Their shaggy dog bounded in from another room and leaped at Alex.
‘Walkies?’
Griz dashed over to the peg where they kept his lead and pawed at the wall as if he could reach it down.
‘All right, I’m coming…’
Stuffing the last of his toast into his mouth, Alex reached for the lead and clipped it to Grizzle’s collar. He turned to Zoe. ‘Want to come with me?’
‘Sorry, haven’t got time this morning. I said I’d call on Maisie before I start work to help her go through some forms so she can apply for child benefit.’
‘We ought to do ours,’ he said. ‘We haven’t yet claimed for Louisa.’
‘If you recall, we said it was Billie’s job and we shouldn’t interfere – that’s why we haven’t done it. She’s feeling much better now; I expect she’ll sort it when she gets a minute.’
‘Oh, yeah…’ Leading Grizzle, he stamped his feet into a pair of wellies that were waiting at the back door. ‘Now I remember. It’s not like she’s cost us loads of money anyway.’
‘Not yet.’
‘So you’ll be gone when I get back?’
‘Yes.’ Zoe got up and planted a kiss on his lips. ‘Stop worrying. Everything is going to be fine, and you’re going to be brilliant. Good luck – let me know when they’ve arrived and checked in, and if you need anything…’
‘I won’t call you,’ he said with a smile. ‘You’ve got enough to do.’
‘Don’t stress it. If you really need something, then I’ll have my phone to hand. I can’t say I’ll be able to sort it straight away, but I can at least try to help you come up with a solution. But youwon’t need me because you’ve got this all in hand. I have faith in you.’
Billie came into the kitchen with Louisa. ‘Shall I go back upstairs so you two can be loved up for a bit longer?’
Alex grinned. ‘Cheeky little madam. It doesn’t matter how old you get, that doesn’t change.’
‘Wait until we have it in stereo,’ Zoe said. ‘It won’t be long before Louisa will be cheeking you back too.’
‘If I train her right, yeah.’ Billie took a seat at the table. ‘You’re taking Griz now? I would have come with you if you’d waited.’
‘I think your dad has some nervous energy he needs to work off.’ Zoe went back to her toast.
‘He’ll want another walk later,’ Alex said. ‘You can take him then, if you don’t mind, while I get things ready for the guests.’
‘I thought everything was ready,’ Billie said.
Zoe rolled her eyes. ‘It is. Only your dad is convinced there’s more to be done.’
Billie shrugged as she settled Louisa on her lap. ‘Well, if you need help later with the imaginary things you have to do, Dad, I don’t mind.’
‘You’ve got your hands full…Yes, I’m coming…’ He glanced down at Grizzle, who’d started to scratch at the door. ‘I’d better go. I’ll see you both later.’
