Chapter 15

It was nearly three when she rang off with Pippa, and Louisa realised that she needed to be available to meet this last applicant so she wandered into the reception area to greet Morwenna who had her head buried in a fan magazine. She looked up when she heard Louisa walk in to the room and chirped, "Hi-ya."

"Hi." Louisa walked over to her desk and nodded her head toward the consultation room door. "What do you think?"

"Seems nice enough. Good lookin'."

Louisa smiled at the young woman, "That might make your job a bit more pleasant."

Morwenna laughed, "Yeah it might. Don't know how Al will feel about it though."

Louisa continued to speculate, "I thought that young woman, Shirley, who interviewed yesterday was quite a good candidate."

Morwenna agreed," Yeah. The Doc seemed to like her and she was assertive as well. He needs someone who can stand up to him."

"I suppose he will offer her the job if this man doesn't work out."

"Yeah, she was pretty too. The village blokes would like her." She chuckled, "Not sure about their wives and girlfriends."

They both turned their heads toward the door when they heard the sound of chairs scraping against the floor in Martin's office, and the door opened as the two men left the office.

"Ah Louisa. This is Nathaniel Marshall." Nodding towards Louisa, he added, "my wife Louisa Ellingham."

"Nice to meet you Nathaniel." Louisa reached out to shake his hand thinking that Morwenna was right. This man was quite attractive, with his piercing blue eyes, his closely cropped sandy hair, and the deep cleft in his chin. The village ladies would love coming to the surgery if they knew he would be caring for them.

He gave her a broad smile, "Yes, nice to meet you as well. Call me Nate, please. Doctor Ellingham tells me that you used to be head teacher at Portwenn Primary."

Louisa retuned his smile, "That's right. I resigned early this year when I decided to concentrate on my coursework for a new career."

'Oh really? What are you studying?"

"Child and Adolescent Counselling."

"Oh. That's a bit different from being head teacher, I'd imagine."

"Well, yes, in a way, it is. But it's still working with children and I think it will be equally rewarding."

"My wife, Claire, just took the head teacher position at Wadebridge School. That's why we've moved to Cornwall."

"Oh, that's a big school, very challenging. Where did you move from?"

"Bath. Well just outside the city proper, but we always say we are from Bath – most people know where it is."

"Mmm … beautiful city."

Martin had gone back into his office while Louisa and Nate were chatting, but came back out to move things along, and cleared his throat as a hint to Louisa. She glanced over at Martin and smiled, then turned to Nate, "Well, I guess I'd better leave you to Morwenna – she can tell you how the surgery works and all that. Nice to meet you." She nervously swung her hands back and forth and then drifted back into the kitchen, where she pulled out some pans to marinate the fish and prepare the vegetables to cook later after she gathered James from nursery.

She had almost finished her dinner prep when she heard Martin escort Nate to the door with an assurance that he or Chris Parsons would be in touch the next day. She washed and dried her hands and walked back into Martin's office to join Morwenna and Martin. As he sat down in his chair, she looked him in the eye and asked, "What did you think?"

"Chris was right. He seems a very promising applicant. He has a number of years of experience in a large and varied clinical setting. He was able to respond to each of my questions as I would expect, and when I presented him with common patient situations to evaluate, he gave me detailed and satisfactory answers. You were right to wonder if this small village surgery would be enough of a challenge for him; but if he is willing to work here, I think he would be an excellent addition to the surgery. What did each of you think?"

Louisa responded first, "I only spoke to him briefly, but he seemed pleasant enough."

Morwenna piped up, "Yeah Doc. I expect that the villagers would much rather see him than you unless they have some real problem." When Martin gave her a sceptical look, she followed up, 'You know what I mean Doc, the time wasters who only have a hangover every week after quiz night at the pub, or the malingers who aren't really sick and just want someone to talk to."

"Right. Do you have any reservations?"

Morwenna leaned in with a concerned look on her face, "Not really. But Doc, I do have a question? What about my first responder duties?"

"Hmm. I'm sure there will still be a need for you to step in occasionally when my assistant and I are both busy or out of the surgery."

She sat back in her chair with a grin on her face, "Good to know."

Martin closed up his notebook and placed his hands on the desktop, "Yes, Good. I will call Chris and ask that he make an offer to Nathaniel. I believe he is free to start on Monday if he decides to accept the position. He and his wife have twin boys, two years old, and his mother-in-law is caring for them"

Louisa looked concerned, "Did you tell him about Portwenn Tots?"

Martin gave her a stern look, "Yes I did mention that we have enrolled James there. But I believe there is a waiting list."

"Still, he might want to put them on the wait list. Twin toddlers can be a handful. I'm sure my mother wouldn't be able to handle them."

Martin rolled his eyes, "She'd probably drug them."

"Martin!"

That was Morwenna's cue to take her leave; she wasn't anxious to stay around if her boss and his wife were about to have a row. "Are we done here? I need to check with Al, see if he needs me."

"Yes Morwenna. You may leave. I will let you know who accepts the position and the date you should return to the surgery. Unless I tell you otherwise, be here at half eight Monday morning."

"Right-o Doc." Morwenna jumped up and cheerily gathered her bags. As she was putting on her jacket, someone started banging on the door and she stepped to the door shouting back to Martin, "I'll get that". She opened the door, ready to declare that the surgery was closed, then stepped back, unprepared to greet Pauline Lamb standing there, "I need to see the Doc."

Morwenna managed to compose herself and replied, "The surgery is closed. You'll have to go to Wadebridge."

Pauline was insistent, "I'm not ill. This is personal."

Louisa and Martin heard the disturbance and glanced at each other. Martin rose and walked to the door, "It's alright, Morwenna. I'll take care of this."

"You sure Doc?"

"Yes. Go on home."

"Okay. See you Monday."

Louisa scuttled into the kitchen as Martin ushered Pauline into his office and closed the door, "Come through." He went behind his desk and sat down, folding his hands primly on top of the desk. He nodded to the chair opposite his, "Take a seat. What can I do for you?"

Pauline fidgeted in her chair for a few moments, examining Martin carefully, "You look well, Doc."

"I am. You look well also." Martin replied patiently. He noticed that she still favoured outlandish clothing, another reason he wouldn't want her meeting with patients. Morwenna had a similar fashion style when she first started in the surgery, but she had gradually moved on to a more restrained style. He knew why Pauline was there and he wasn't looking forward to the encounter, but he knew it was important to let her down gently, else the village might rise up against him like they did when he had fired Elaine all those years ago.

"I heard you are looking for a nursing assistant."

"Yes I am."

"Well … here I am," she chirped brightly with an eager smile on her face.

"And …?"

"I'd be perfect for the position."

Martin scowled. This wasn't going to be easy, "Why is that?"

"I know you. You and I have worked well together before, and I know how to help you with your blood thingy. Plus, I know the villagers and can tell when they are really sick and when they are just looking for a sick note."

Martin nodded, "I understand that you have completed your nursing degree. How much other experience do you have?"

"We dealt with all kinds of situations in hospital during training, Doc. I've seen it all."

"Yes, but what is your experience after nursing school?"

"I just graduated this May. I was hoping to come back to the village and work here …. with you. We'd make a great team Doc."

"Perhaps, but I need someone with experience in an actual clinical situation. All of the applicants I've interviewed have at least one year of post-graduation experience working in a clinic or surgery. As you know, my patients present with all sorts of complaints, injuries, and illnesses. I want my assistant to be able to immediately recognize the difference between those that need my urgent attention and those that only need a quick wound dressing or a dose of hydration salts."

"I could do that."

"Could you really?"

"Yeah. You know I'm a quick learner."

"Yes. You are, but I am not in a position to be training someone, and I have to think of the welfare of my patients. Pauline, I'm afraid that you are not qualified for this position at this time. There are many entry level nursing positions begging for hard workers, and I am sure you will be just what they are looking for now. If I should need another assistant in a few years, you should apply and I will consider your application at that time. Until then I wish you well. Good-bye."

Martin rose and walked to the door, indicating that Pauline should follow him. She rose from her chair, but held back, "I think you will regret this Doc."

"Are you threatening me?" Martin's usual frown deepened and he glowered at her, daring her to make trouble.

'No … no Doc. I just think I would be the best person for the job."

"You aren't."

She glared at him as she stepped out the door, thinking, "Same old rude tosser. He'll wish he had hired me." She shot him one last angry glance before she walked down the front steps, and he closed and locked the door.

Martin took a deep breath and let it out, then walked back to his office to phone Chris to ask him to make the offer of employment to Nathaniel.