He flung the door open and, after following Grizzle out, let it slam shut again, startling Louisa, who began to cry. Billie frowned as she soothed her.
Zoe got up to put some more bread in the toaster. ‘Is it only me who thinks your dad might be a tad nervous today?’
‘He was never like this when he was expecting guests at the villa in Spain. I suppose I was younger then, though, so maybe I don’t remember it the same.’
‘If he was like this every time, he wouldn’t have survived. I would imagine your mum did a lot for him back then. She was his business partner as well, wasn’t she?’
‘Yeah, I suppose that’s the difference. This time he’s doing it all himself.’
‘Not quite – he only has to ask.’
‘We both know that, but I don’t think he likes to. You’ve got another job, and I’ve got Louisa – it’s not the same as it was with Mum. I mean, she had me, but I wasn’t a baby.’
‘Hopefully it will settle as soon as we’ve had the first few guests.’
‘Probably,’ Billie agreed. ‘What time are you going to work?’
‘In about fifteen minutes, why?’
‘I wondered if I could get a lift to the village. Actually, never mind, I don’t think I’ll be ready by then.’
‘I can wait five minutes or so.’
Billie shook her head. ‘I’ll see if Victor can take me later on. I was going to get Dad something.’
‘Like what?’ Zoe offered some fresh toast to Billie, who nodded. ‘Is there some occasion I ought to know about?’
‘No, I only thought…Well, I don’t always tell him how much I appreciate what he does for me. I mean,’ she added quickly, ‘what you both do for me. I don’t know why, but it’s easier to say it to you, and we do go out and stuff. But with Dad, I don’t know how to say it, and we don’t do things together like we used to. I didn’t want him to think I’m ungrateful, and he’s been so stressed the past few weeks I’d hate to think I’ve made it worse. So I thought I’d buy him something…I don’t know, like some wine or something. The guys at the shop will know which he likes, won’t they?’
‘I could tell you that, but I can also tell you he doesn’t feel taken for granted one bit. He’d do anything for you and Louisa, and he wouldn’t ever ask for a thing in return. But if you wantto do something nice for him, then how about I put a bottle that I know he likes behind the counter for you when I go to get the biscuits on my way to work?’
‘It doesn’t feel like I’m doing much like that. I ought to go down and choose it – maybe you could tell Magnus and Geoff what sort I should look at so they can show me when I get there?’
‘I can do that.’
Billie settled Louisa into her swing chair and then buttered her toast.
‘She looks very happy in there,’ Zoe said, angling her head at Billie’s baby.
‘She loves it – it was the best present. You shouldn’t keep buying things for us, though.’
‘Why not?’
‘You might need the money one day.’
‘I’m all right for money,’ Zoe said with a smile. ‘It’s not like I do much, so I don’t need a ton. I doubt I’ll even go on holiday this year, not with your dad so busy at the field.’
‘You could still go – he wouldn’t expect you to stay home just because he can’t go with you.’
‘It’s not the same on your own.’
‘Don’t you have a mate who would go?’
‘Not really. Not one who’s got the time right now. It’s all right, I’m not bothered. I mean, we live in the Lakes, so it’s not as if it’s a hardship to staycation, is it? I don’t mind being here over the summer if we get some nice weather; I’ll just make the most of the area. There’s lots of it I haven’t seen yet.’
‘Maybe we can take Louisa out together.’
‘I’d love that.’ Zoe watched Billie as she fussed over her daughter, wiping drool from her lip and sitting her a little straighter. From nowhere, she was suddenly beset by a wave of emotion. She sniffed so hard to swallow it back that Billie turned sharply to look.
