13
Louisa was red-cheeked when Zoe went down to get a quick breakfast the following morning. Billie paced the kitchen with her, hair uncombed and yawning.
‘She’s still not right,’ she said as soon as she saw Zoe. ‘I think we ought to take her to the hospital.’
Zoe went over to look. ‘She’s slightly flushed…’ Despite very obviously not being quite herself, Louisa showed bright interest at Zoe’s attention, reaching for an earring that was tantalisingly close.
‘There’s no new rashes?’ she asked, using the back of her hand to gauge the little girl’s temperature. ‘She doesn’t seem too bad. You gave her some Calpol?’
‘Yes, like you said.’
‘Ottilie says Flo has some kind of flu bug. I wonder if it’s that.’
‘Then we have to take her to the hospital!’
‘Scary as it is, she will catch things, and it’s not the worst thing in the world that she does if she’s going to build any kind of resistance.’
‘You want her to get ill?’
‘That’s not what I said. Of course I don’t want her to be ill; I said it will happen no matter what we do, and it’s the way babies build their resistance. Of course it’s sensible to try to protect her, but it’s not always possible. I could ask Simon or Emilia to see her if you’re worried. Looking at her now, though, I’d say we could watch and wait.’
‘Until she gets so bad nobody can do anything for her?’
‘That would never happen because you’re watching like a hawk. She’s grumbly, but she doesn’t seem very ill at the moment. She’s interested in things and alert enough.’
‘She’s boiling!’
‘She’s warm, but I wouldn’t go that?—’
‘I’ll ring the doctor myself.’
‘OK,’ Zoe said, trying to hold on to her patience. ‘Do you want me to run you down to the surgery when I go to work?’
‘I wouldn’t want to put you out. I’ll make my own way there.’
‘What’s that supposed to mean?’
‘You’re always telling me to trust my instincts because mums know their babies, but when I do, you make me feel like I’m stupid for telling you I think there’s something wrong.’
‘Billie, that’s not how it is.’
‘I’m telling you she’s ill, and you’re just like, yeah, you’re making a fuss over nothing.’
‘I agree with you, she’s under the weather. I’m only suggesting you hold back and see how she gets on over the next few hours because, from my experience, she’ll most likely perk up. But if you want to take her to see one of the doctors, I’m happy to run you down there. Refusing my offer is cutting off your nose to spite your face, but if that’s how you feel, then go ahead and call the surgery and arrange your own way to get there.’
Zoe pulled a box of cornflakes from the cupboard, aware that there was no winning this argument…if it even was one. Shewasn’t trying to be obstructive; she was only trying to reassure Billie that, in her opinion, Louisa didn’t look as poorly as she thought. Billie had made up her mind that Zoewasbeing awkward, and Zoe was too tired and too preoccupied with other thoughts to fight her.
Billie went to the stairs and called up. ‘Dad! Are you dressed yet? I need you to take me to the village!’
Zoe’s frown deepened, and now she was annoyed. Was Billie trying to make her look bad? Was she trying to make out to Alex that Zoe didn’t care? ‘Why are you bothering your dad? I said I’d take you to the village when I go.’
‘You said to make my own way there.’
‘Billie, that’s twisting my words, and you know it!’
‘They’re your words.’
‘It wouldn’t stand up in a court of law.’
