Page 49 of A Christmas Wish for the Village Midwife

Corrine offered Billie a shrewd look, and Zoe wondered if she was thinking that Billie might also be the perfect candidate. But even if she was, and even if Billie wanted to take Kestrel Cottage, there was no practical way she could do that as her current circumstances stood. ‘But still, it’s not hurting anyone at the moment. We go in and freshen it up now and again, switch the heating on to stop it getting damp and that sort of thing. I expect someone will take it in the spring.’

‘Have you thought about renting it out as a holiday let?’ Zoe asked.

‘Oh, that’s too much work for us now,’ Corrine said, hands on her hips as she gave the table a practical look. ‘I’ll fill Victor’s flask if there’s tea left in that pot and nobody wants it.’

‘But you could get someone to manage the cottage if you wanted to rent it for holidays,’ Zoe added. ‘Would that work?’

‘I don’t know,’ Corrine said, her gaze flicking to Billie again, who’d been very deliberately silent throughout the exchange. ‘You and your dad would know more about that sort of thing than I would,’ she added. ‘You used to do it, after all. In Spain, didn’t you? Wasn’t that your dad’s business?’

Billie looked up now with a frown. ‘Dad’s yes. I was too young to get properly involved. He’d let me help out cleaning and stuff, but that’s all.’

‘But you’re a bright girl – I’m sure you could pick it up.’

Was Corrine offering Billie a job? Zoe couldn’t tell what was going on, and she didn’t think Billie could either.

Billie only shrugged. ‘I guess, but I’ve got Louisa, so…’

‘Of course. You want to be a hands-on mum. I don’t blame you – I was the same. But so many young parents want to work these days.’

‘Mostly they have to,’ Zoe put in.

‘Oh yes, I’m sure that must be a big part of their decision,’ Corrine agreed. ‘And I do think it’s sad when it’s not what they really want, but a lot of them want to. It gets them out of the house and keeps them on the career ladder… not that I’d know much about that. I wouldn’t recognise a career ladder if it biffed me over the head. Not that I ever minded… always been happy enough here.’ She began to pour the leftover tea into a flask, and then her head flicked up again. ‘Are you doing the panto after all? I don’t recall what you said.’

‘No chance.’ Billie gave a half laugh.

‘Me neither,’ Zoe said. ‘I know my strengths, and they’re definitely not on the stage. I don’t mind lending a hand in other areas.’

‘I said I’d help sew the costumes and do some painting for the scenery. I’m going down to the rehearsal tomorrow night to see what’s what. Come with me if you fancy getting involved.’

‘I might,’ Zoe said, looking at Billie, who shook her head.

‘I’ll let you know what time I’m going,’ Corrine said. She glanced at the clock and threw her hands into the air. ‘Look at that! Here’s me gassing and we’ve got to go, otherwise Victor will be on his way back down, and nobody will see the baby!’

And then the boots and coats that had been shed were back on again, and a few minutes later the three of them were marching up the hill to the paddock where Victor kept his alpaca. Corrine chattered away, and she seemed more excited than either of them to go and visit the new addition, even though she must have seen her plenty since the birth.

Victor had a heater fixed to the wall and a bed of straw for mum and baby separate from the others. ‘I didn’t have to,’ he said. ‘They’d have been all right, but I worry that she was born at the wrong time of year. They’re meant to be mated so they unpack in the spring or summer… someone really didn’t know what they were doing.’

‘Unpack?’ Billie frowned as she peered into the pen.

‘It’s what we call it when they give birth,’ Corrine said.

‘Oh. Sounds harsh. They’re not shopping.’

‘Aye,’ Victor said, ‘you have a point, but that’s just the way it’s done.’ He stood back and smiled. ‘Well, what do you reckon? She’s a beaut, isn’t she?’

‘She’s really cute,’ Billie agreed. ‘What’s her name?’

‘Don’t have one yet.’

‘I thought you might have called her Zoe,’ Billie said with a quick grin. ‘Seeing as she was here helping you, and seeing as you already have an Ottilie.’

‘We did think of that,’ Corrine said. ‘But we weren’t sure Zoe would like it.’

Zoe gave a bemused smile as she reached to pet Dandelion. ‘Why wouldn’t I like it? But Zoe doesn’t really match the other names, does it? If her mum’s called Dandelion, maybe you should give her a flower name too? Like Buttercup or Clover or something.’

‘I like Clover,’ Billie said. It was good to see a spark of enthusiasm as she turned back to the baby and rubbed her head. ‘Clover…’

‘It’s got a ring to it,’ Victor agreed.