Chapter 35

The next week had been full with Martin starting at hospital, and with Ted Chen taking over at the surgery. Despite Martin's contract stating that he was to be at hospital only three days a week, he had spent the entire first week at hospital. He promised that it was a one off, that he needed the time to set up his staff, to get a feel for the hospital culture, to see how the department would function over the course of an entire week, and to lay down some ground rules, what he expected from the staff and to start seeing patients. Despite his assurances that demands on his time would ease, Louisa was uneasy. Had he "bitten off more than he could chew", as the old saying went. And, in the midst of all this change, she still had her course work to complete with a research paper due in two weeks. Without Martin nearby keeping the house tidy, caring for James and frequently preparing meals, everyday life was much more difficult; she had never really considered how much he did to take care of them every day, and this past week much of that work had fallen on her. It was challenging finding the time to study. Their lives would be changed radically with his new position, and she was concerned.

After meeting Ted at the surgery the previous Saturday, she had wandered down to the cottage the Chen's planned to rent through the end of January and introduced herself to Ted's wife, Ethel. She greeted Louisa warmly, but declined her offer of dinner, apologising profusely. Ethel hoped to have the belongings they had brought with them unpacked by the end of the day if she was to get her two young daughters in bed at a reasonable hour.

She happily accepted Louisa's invitation to a late lunch the next day, and the two families had a pleasant meal getting acquainted. Martin and Ted had much to discuss; it wasn't often, hardly ever actually, that the Ellinghams hosted another family at their home and for Martin to have another medical professional with whom to interact made it all the more special. And James was pleased to have the attention of the Chen's two daughters. Eight-year-old Lilli was the oldest and Christina, Tina as she preferred to be called was five. They sat quietly during the meal, speaking only when responding to a question, but they were less reserved when they were excused to go with James into the playroom; both their parents were pleased to hear cheerful chatter and giggles as they helped James construct a castle with his blocks.
Much of the conversation during the meal centred on the reasons the Chens decided to emigrate. Both their families had lived in Hong Kong for generations, but they were concerned at the restrictions that the Chinese government continued to impose on the residents. Ethel's sister Grace and her family had moved to Bristol four years prior, and she had invited them to join her and her family. Her husband had found a position at the University of Bristol working in the nuclear energy field, and her sister had found a position as a mathematics instructor at one of the secondary schools in the area. Their two children seemed to be happy, and so, the Chens decided to immigrate themselves several years ago. Ted easily found a position in a London clinic and they settled in; but they had trouble finding friends in London. Certainly, London was a bustling city and just as cosmopolitan as Hong Kong, but they never felt at home there nearly two years after arriving. People were distant, and the children didn't care for their school. It was a large state school, and the girls, who are quiet and shy, had trouble finding others with similar interests. They missed the beaches that they were used to visiting and the nature walks; already after their first day in Portwenn, the girls had discovered the Platt. Even though it was winter, they were looking forward to long walks on the coastal path and visiting some of the sandy beaches nearby.

At the end of the meal, the men retired to Martin's study where the two of them discussed the challenges inherent in the Portwenn GP practice. After his introduction to the practice the previous day, Ted had a few additional questions and Martin was more than happy to answer them in his own special way, emphasizing the idiocy of many villagers who frequently failed to follow his advice. Martin also demonstrated his IT software to Ted and spoke about the work he was about to assume at hospital.

With the children safely at play, the two women had a chance to share their stories over a cup of tea. Louisa was concerned about Ethel's family fitting in with the villagers in Portwenn, so she asked, "It must be hard moving to a new country where the customs are so different and where you are away from your family."

Ethel chuckled as a grimace crossed her face, and she shrugged her shoulders. "Well, the customs aren't all different. After all Hong Kong was a British Crown Colony for years. Most business is conducted in English, we drive on the left side of the road, we observe afternoon tea time … and cricket … and football … and rugby, and we enjoy going to the local pub."

"Yes, I understand, but you must still have many Chinese customs particular to Hong Kong. Cooking is mostly Chinese influenced, isn't it?"

"Yes. But as I said, London is a very cosmopolitan city and we were able to find all we needed for cooking our favourite meals there. It may be more challenging here in Cornwall."

"Yes, it may." Louisa was actually worried about the villagers accepting Ted and Ethel and their children, and she was wondering how she could make things easier for them so she blundered on, 'Yet you found it difficult to find a community of friends in London."

"Somewhat. The NHS recruits staff from all over the world, and Ted never felt out of place in the clinic where he worked. Most of my work is done on-line with little interaction with the locals, so unfortunately, I didn't have much time to make friends.

"Your work is on-line? Is that something you intend to continue whilst you are here in Portwenn?" Louisa had experience doing much of her course work on-line, but she couldn't imagine working full-time over the internet.

Ethel replied, eager to share her experience, "Yes. I am a data analyst at one of the insurance consulting firms head-quartered in Hong Kong. My work involves finding patterns in claims data for various property and casualty companies to help them manage their risks."

She took a sip of her tea and then set the cup down, "That's a simple explanation; it may sound dull, but it can be very exciting when you notice a trend evolving in a particular line of business or in a particular country. With the availability of the internet, we can update data sets quickly and I don't need to be in the office to do my work and report my findings. Before we took the cottage in the village, I made sure that the wi-fi connection was strong. I was able to continue to work in London with no problems, and I plan to continue my work whilst we are here in Portwenn."

Louisa nodded in understanding, "It really is brilliant what we can do with modern technology. As you know, I am studying child counselling at the local university, and I do my tutorials on-line. It's extremely convenient … unless Martin is in the room." She chuckled as she told Ethel about the one tutorial she had where Martin was listening in and had challenged some of her professor's theories.

"What about the girls, Lilli and Tina, will you enrol them at Portwenn Primary?"

"Yes, we hope to find a place for them there, become immersed in all things Cornwall, but I am concerned for them. Are there many children in the school? How easy do you think it will be for them to make friends? And if they make close friends, I worry about how sad they will be when we are uprooted when Ted's contract here ends. It will be so much easier once we have found a place to settle."

Louisa was sympathetic, knowing how difficult it was for new students to assimilate, and she thought it might be a bit more difficult because of their background as immigrants although she didn't bring that up to Ethel. She assured Ethel that the school was small when compared to London schools and that the class sizes were generally fewer than twenty students, "It is difficult to be the new kid in class, no matter who you are or where you're from. Tell you what, I'll speak to the headmistress and ask her to smooth the way, find one or two other girls who could act as guides or mentors for their first week or so until they know some of the other kids."

Louisa had made that call to Pippa as soon as the Chens left that afternoon, and Pippa had been a star; she had introduced them to several girls in their respective years. Louisa noticed the girls playing with several other children later in the week, and Ethel had assured her that they were settling in without too many tears at the end of the day. Nevertheless, she planned to check in with Pippa and the girls' teachers to assure herself that the girls were doing okay. She knew that children often told their parents what they thought they wanted to hear and hid what was actually going on.

At the end of the week, on Friday evening Louisa was scheduled to meet Martin at hospital, along with Robert Kirkham, the chief of surgery and his wife. They were hosting a dinner with one of the surgeons they hoped to entice down to Cornwall. This dinner was to be the first of several at which Martin expected Louisa to attend to help attract new staff to his unit. To that end she had spent a day in Truro shopping for a few outfits appropriate for the recruiting dinners. She hated having to buy several maternity dresses that she would never wear again after January, but Martin insisted that she purchase more than one and so she had bought three. It felt like an extravagance, but Martin reminded her again of his compensation package, part of which was to pay for the attire needed for these functions.

He had also mentioned that they would likely be expected to attend a reception for hospital donors with the goal of enticing them to fund the most up-to-date equipment that the vascular unit would need to assure their patients of the best care. He was also hoping to garner some funds to remodel additional surgical suites. When Martin had discussed the work he would be taking on, he hadn't mentioned the social obligations that were attached to the job. When he told her about tonight's dinner and the one on Sunday with another of his recruits, he apologised, saying that these sorts of activities could be tedious at best, but were required if he were to make the department outstanding. He might find this dinner tedious, but she was looking forward to meeting these surgeons and their partners who might be future colleagues of Martin's.

Martin had observed Priya MacDonald as she performed several surgeries during his visits to London to work on the IT project and he was impressed with her skills. He had invited her to dinner one evening to discuss his plans for the Truro vascular department and to sound her out as to whether she would be interested in joining his team. She had been open to the idea, and as such, she had driven down with her partner Sofia the previous afternoon so that Priya could meet with Martin and Rob to discuss her possible role in the vascular unit and tour the facility. Louisa was curious about these two women, but other than Priya's surgical qualifications, Martin knew little about either of them. It would be an interesting evening.

Ruth had come over to watch James because their usual child minder, Melanie Gibson, had not been available this evening. Louisa remembered back to the first time Melanie had arrived to care for James. Martin had a horrified look on his face when he saw her even though the girl was pleasant and had greeted him with a shy smile, "Hiya Doc." Louisa could sense there was some kind of history between them just by the way Melanie had stood shuffling her feet with a hopeful expression on her face. On the other hand, Martin's eyes opened wide, his deer in the headlights expression as she thought of it, and he cleared his throat, "Louisa, a word." He gestured that Louisa should follow him into the kitchen. Never a good sign, she thought.

"Louisa, where did you find this girl? Is she qualified to care for James?"

"She came with excellent references from several of the other village mums, and she has passed the child care course offered at the leisure centre with flying colours. Her dad is an instructor there and he has instructed her in all aspects of first aid as well."

Martin nodded, "Yes. I know her Dad."

"Well then. Do you have a problem with her caring for James?"

"Mmm … if you're certain that she is qualified."

"I am."

He had seemed reluctant, but they left after giving Melanie a few instructions regarding James' bedtime as well as their mobile numbers if she needed to contact them. As they settled down to dinner, after they had placed their order, Louisa asked, "So ... Melanie ... can you tell me why you were concerned?"

Martin moved his utensils around, "It's nothing."

"I don't think it is."

Martin sighed and then he explained that Melanie had developed a crush on him shortly after he came to the village when he had relocated her shoulder."

Louisa laughed at his discomfiture, "Really, a crush?"

"Yes. It wasn't funny, very awkward."

Louisa was fairly certain he hadn't told her the entire story, but the waiter had brought their meal and she never found a good time to bring it back up. When they returned home, James was in bed and Melanie gave them a full accounting of their evening and Martin felt better about her competency after that. She and Martin tried to go out to dinner every other week and Melanie had become a reliable sitter for those evenings.

Louisa looked at the clock and realised that the taxi would arrive at any moment. She hurried down the stairs to find Ruth and James standing in the foyer waiting to see her off. "You look very nice this evening, Louisa. That's a lovely dress."

"Thank you, Ruth. Martin insisted that I purchase a few new dresses for these dinners, but it seems like such an extravagance."

"No. I'm certain that Martin knows what he is about. I know he hates these types of dinners. Having you there looking beautiful will help alleviate his need to make idle chit-chat."

Louisa laughed, "I can't decide if that's a compliment or not, but I will take it as such. Thank you, and I suppose you are right. Unless the topic is medicine, Martin isn't a particularly gifted conversationalist, that's for certain. Could be an interesting night."

James was playing with Buddy on the floor, but he had been listening to the women talk and he looked up, "Mummy, you look pretty."

With some effort, Louisa leaned over and mussed his hair affectionately, "Why thank you James."

The taxi pulled up to the house and tooted its horn, "I guess I'd better go." Louisa took one last look in the mirror to check her make-up and opened the door, "Be a good boy for your Aunt Ruth James. I love you." Blowing them both a kiss, she left the house to enter the taxi, grateful that the entrance to their new home had easier access to the road than the surgery's steps and sloping terrace.

"Thank you, Tom," Louisa smiled up to Martin's driver, as he opened the door for her and helped her as she slid onto the back seat.

"Nice to see you this evening, Mrs. Ellingham."

He closed the door and walked over to the driver's side, sat down, buckled his seat belt and started the engine. He glanced back at her, "Doc takin' you out to dinner this evenin'?"

"Something like that. We are dining with the head of surgery and another surgeon down from London. Martin is hoping to hire her to work in his department."

"Oh, a work dinner … Hope you enjoy it."

Louisa smiled, "I plan to." Tom had started driving Martin this first week, and it seemed to be working out. If it hadn't, she was certain that Martin would have complained vociferously and sacked him by the end of the first day. Tom Burke, not Tommy of 'Tommy's Taxis', was a friend of Al and Morwenna's. They had gone to secondary school together. Louisa had not met him before today because he had grown up in Wadebridge and had not attended Portwenn Primary. Tom was a quiet man and they settled into a serene drive to hospital. As they drove over the moor, they passed the area where Tommy had crashed his taxi and where Martin had found them and taken them to the pub where James was born. She had driven this same route herself several times over the past three years, but being in a taxi brought back all her memories of that time in their lives. As difficult as their relationship had been, it was a happy memory, with Martin by her side when she gave birth to their precious son.

As they pulled off the main road into the hospital compound, she texted Martin to let him know she had arrived. Tom drove around to a side entrance and she saw Martin waiting outside the door. He walked up to the taxi and helped her out. She turned to him and smiled, "That was quick."

'I was expecting you." He nodded to Tom, "I'll see you Monday morning, regular time."

"Yes," Tom appeared to have the same laconic temperament as her husband and he pulled away from the curb as Martin took her elbow to guide her to the door. "I believe you wanted to see Bert whilst you were here?"

"Yes, how is he doing?"

She asked Martin about Bert every evening and was aware that he was improving, but that was all that Martin was willing to divulge. She hadn't seen Bert since he had first entered hospital over a week ago and she really had no idea what to expect. She knew it had been touch and go his first week in hospital, but Martin said he was gradually recovering. Al had been to see Bert every afternoon and he seemed less anxious about his father than he had been the first week. Morwenna relayed Al's impression that he was getting better, but Louisa was stunned when they entered his ward and saw him lying there in the bed still hooked up to several monitors. He looked so frail, still a big man, but diminished somehow, and it saddened her to see him so ill.

He opened his eyes as they approached his bed and he reached out to Louisa, "Aren't you a sight for sore eyes girl."

She squeezed his hand in response, 'It's good to see you, Bert. You gave us all a scare."

He closed his eyes, a single tear slipping from his eye, "I wouldn't be here if it weren't for the Doc."

Louisa turned to look at Martin who responded in his straight-forward manner, "That's true." He was making a note of Bert's vitals as displayed on the bedside monitor. "It was Mr. Marshall's recognition that something wasn't quite right when he saw you in the surgery and his consultation with me that ensured we were able to make the repairs to your artery in time."

Louisa turned back to smile at Bert, "But the important thing is you are getting better, isn't that right?"

"That's what they tell me," Bert replied, but with little enthusiasm.

Martin had moved to the end of Bert's bed and had been examining Bert's chart as Louisa spoke with him, and he looked up, "I see that the physical therapist got you out of that bed and moving today." He gazed at Bert expectantly.

"That's right Doc. Now I know why they call them physical terrorists."

"We've discussed this before Bert. It's good for you to get moving. It will speed your recovery so you can go home sooner."

"Yeah Doc. I know."

Bert's whole demeanour was dispirited and it upset Louisa. She wanted to say something to encourage him to recover, "Bert, I need you to get better. The village needs you to get better. We miss you; James Henry asks about you every day. You need to get better for all of us."

A sly grin spread over Bert's face, "That's quite a pep talk there my lover. I'll see what I can do."

She flashed him a brilliant smile, "Good."

Martin watched this interchange with interest. He had been hesitant to allow Louisa to visit Bert, but he could now see that her visit had lifted his spirits even more than Al's visits had done. "Yes. Good. I think we should leave now Louisa." He moved toward the ward's exit.

"Okay." She leaned over and gave Bert a gentle kiss on his cheek."

He grabbed her hand with a grip so strong that it belied his fragile appearance, "Thanks for coming."

Louisa pulled her hand away from Bert's and turned to leave his side, "It was good to see you."

"Bring her again, Doc." Bert cried as Martin and Louisa walked away, and Louisa turned to wave good-bye one last time.