‘I know; I heard all about it. He phoned me.’ She pulled out the champagne she’d picked up at the village shop and showed it to Billie. ‘The best one they had.’
‘I bet Magnus was mad with curiosity to know why you were buying it. He’s so nosy. Did you tell him?’
‘He didn’t ask, and I didn’t tell. I mean, where would be the fun in that?’
‘He’ll be driving Geoff crazy trying to guess!’ Billie let out a laugh that startled Louisa, who’d begun to doze in her arms. But the little girl soon settled again.
‘And I’m enjoying imagining that,’ Zoe replied with a look full of mischief. She ran a hand over her forehead. ‘He’ll know soon enough, I’m sure. Simon already knew – he mentioned it to me before I left work. Hang on…Let me get this coat off, I’m melting here.’
‘Sorry.’ Billie’s tone was full of reproach, and Zoe was forcefully reminded that Alex’s daughter had come a long way but she could still be overly sensitive at times. ‘It isn’t even hot in here.’
‘Isn’t it?’ Zoe shrugged her coat off, though it did little to cool her down. ‘Feels like you’ve whacked the heating up again. It’ll do Louisa no good to have it too hot.’
‘I haven’t! And I know about Louisa because you keep telling me! The heating is the same as always!’
‘Is it?’ Zoe kicked her shoes off and let the cold of the tiles seep into her feet. ‘Feels hotter.’
‘You said that yesterday as well, and Dad told you the same.’
‘Sorry, must be me. I might be coming down with something, I suppose.’
Billie backed away an inch, holding Louisa in a more protective embrace. ‘Should I move her in case she catches it?’
‘I didn’t say…it was only a vague thought. I’m fine; I’m obviously just feeling the heat more than the rest of you. It’s probably something and nothing. I promise if I start to feel ill, I’ll stay well away from you and Louisa.’
Billie said nothing but took Louisa with her to sit in a chair at the opposite end of the kitchen. ‘I haven’t had time to cook…Sorry.’
‘It’s not your job, no need to apologise. We thought we might try the new Thai place that’s opened in Ambleside anyway.’
‘You’re going out?’
‘Your dad reckons they might deliver this far out, so we’re going to order in if we can. That way you can have some with us. I mean, I’m sure there would have been a way we could have taken Louisa with us if you’d wanted to eat out, but I assumed…’
‘I don’t fancy going out, and anyway, she’s too little for places like that. When she’s older.’
‘That’s what I thought.’
‘I don’t even care about restaurants and all that stuff anyway. I’ve never understood what’s so good about it. You can’t relax, and you have to wait ages for people to bring your stuff. I’d rather eat here.’
‘Did you always feel that way?’
‘I can’t remember, but that’s how I feel now. Doesn’t matter, does it? It’s got nothing to do with my meltdown.’
‘I didn’t mean that, and nobody thinks it was a breakdown.’ Zoe let out a sigh as she dropped into a seat at the other side ofthe table and mopped a sheen from her brow. ‘It’s common to have a few mental health issues after having a baby.’
‘I bet Maisie doesn’t. She’s always all right.’
‘She’s different from you…I wouldn’t say she’s always all right. The point is, everyone has their own obstacles; having a baby is never easy for anyone, even if it seems so from the outside. But you’re getting there…aren’t you? Unless there’s something…’
‘I’m fine – a lot better. I could probably stop seeing the counsellor soon.’
‘I wouldn’t cancel those sessions too quickly, not until you’re sure you’re on an even keel.’
‘I won’t. I didn’t mean that. I’m not sure it’s doing all that much good now, that’s the thing.’
‘Keep the next few, at least for me and your dad, and then we’ll talk about it. If you still feel at that point you don’t need to keep booking new sessions, then we’ll fully support your choice.’
‘You mean you won’t support it if I cancel them now.’
