Page 90 of A Christmas Wish for the Village Midwife

‘You mean that? You really want to?’

‘I don’t know why I kept saying no, but I really want to. I always wanted to; I was just being Miss Sensible. Boring is more like it. Life’s too short not to do what you want, right?’

He pulled her close and kissed her with so much enthusiasm she felt he might burst into song like he was in a real-life musical. ‘I love you so much! I don’t think you could ever know how much!’

‘I can guess,’ Zoe said, her own smile making her cheeks ache. ‘And for the record, I love you more.’

They talked until after midnight about their plans, how things would change and what life might hold for the coming year, and then Alex looked up at the clock and sucked in a breath.

‘It’s Christmas Day already! Happy Christmas, Zoe.’

‘So it is. Happy Christmas. Boring, but we ought to think about going to bed if we’re getting up early enough to go to the church service. Do you think Billie will come?’

‘She said she would, though I must admit, I was surprised. After the panto thing, I didn’t think she’d ever want to go into the village again.’

‘I know what you mean. You didn’t do your Christmas Eve present swap.’

‘I thought that. The first time since Billie was in primary school that we’ve missed it. It’s a sign of the times, isn’t it? It’s not the only thing that will change. That’s when you know your kids are really not kids anymore, isn’t it? When things like that finally go. I’m not sure I like it.’

‘We’ll just have to make new traditions, as good as the old ones. It’s a good excuse to shake things up a bit.’

He got up and held out his hand for her to follow him up the stairs. ‘I’d say you’ve done a good job of that already. Not that I’m complaining, not one bit. Come on – let’s go to bed.’

19

Zoe woke early. It had snowed overnight, but the sun was out, the fields bathed in glittering soft layers. It was untouched everywhere except the garden, where there were bird tracks all around. She was at the window in the kitchen with a cup of tea when a noise from behind made her turn around. Billie was in the doorway with Louisa.

‘Happy Christmas,’ she said uncertainly.

‘Happy Christmas. Your dad told me everything. Now you’ve had time to sleep on it, how do you feel about your decision?’

‘I don’t know. Maybe I’m a bit scared.’

‘It’s bound to be nerve-racking… it’s a big deal, moving away from home, and you’re moving to another country.’

‘Not so much for me, but for Dad.’

‘Your dad will be all right.’

‘He will because he has you. I’m glad he has. I don’t think I could have left him if he’d been alone. If you’d seen him when Mum died… I never thought he’d smile again. And then you came, and now he smiles all the time.’

‘He makes me happy too… You all do. You’re the family I never thought I’d have. I’ll miss you and Louisa too, you know.’

‘You can visit whenever you want – Luis’s mum and dad won’t mind. They’ll love you.’

‘Oh, don’t worry, I intend to take full advantage of the fact you’re going to be living somewhere hot and sunny! I’ll let you into a secret… I love it here in the Lakes, but sometimes even I’m fed up with the rain.’

‘It’s not raining today…’ Billie went to the window and pointed at the snow. ‘Look, Lou Lou… your first snow!’

Zoe joined them at the window. ‘You won’t get much of this in Spain.’

‘They have it sometimes,’ Billie said. ‘I will miss this place in some ways. It’s just…’

‘You don’t have to explain. Anyway, there will always be room for you here, and you might decide to come back. Never say never.’

‘Yeah, I suppose I might, but I don’t think so right now.’

‘Then that’s good. It means you already feel as if it’s the right decision.’