Chapter 103

Louisa told Martin about the casserole in the fridge and he was pleased that at least he hadn't had to make a meal for that night. Louisa listened for the washer to go off and then transferred the sheets into the dryer.

When Martin was finally finished for the day, he came and sat with her. "Did Joan have much to say, then?"

"No, it was more a case of 'here's some food, you look a bit better, rest or else, bye for now!" Louisa laughed. "What about you? Any out of the ordinary cases, or were they all sore throats and in-grown toenails?" She joked with him.

"No – very mundane. Although there was the case of a pretty school teacher who won't do as she's told, and rest!" he said in a mock growl.

"I've been resting! Between putting washing in the machine and then into the tumble dryer." She protested.

"Well, I'll warm up the casserole, I take it you want some?"

"Yeah, that really sounds good to me."

"If you are wanting to eat, then it seems as though you are getting better. I'll go and wash and then make tea."

Louisa sighed. What a man. Tall, good-looking, domesticated, how did she get to be so lucky?

The runny nose stage had started so she went through endless tissues, resulting in a red nose. Occasionally her eyes watered as well. By 8 o'clock she'd had enough. "I'm going for a shower and then to bed," she told him.

"Fine, shall I bring you up some juice for an overnight drink?"

"Yes, that would be nice, thank you."

She was just getting into bed when he came in with the drink. She smiled up at him and told him the shower had helped to make her feel better.

"Yes, it is actually a fact that being clean is very morale boosting."

"Really?" Louisa looked at him in some surprise.

"Well it always makes me feel better," he laughed. He collected his clean clothes and then gave her a brief kiss, goodnight.

Snuggling down into the bedding she was soon off to sleep.

Martin had gone to work by the time she came down the next morning. He'd left a note saying he'd peeped in at her and she seemed to be sleeping better than the last few days, which was why he hadn't woken her up. He also said he'd be in for coffee at his usual time.

He was right she did feel a lot better. She had breakfast and then set to work with the vacuum cleaner. In what seemed like no time at all she was feeling exhausted again. She couldn't even contemplate taking it upstairs to do the bedrooms. She went to the couch and sat down . Picking her book up she began to read. After her rest she was feeling a bit better and so addressed the cluttered countertop, putting things away and cleaning as she went.

When Martin came in for his break he was met with a much cleaner kitchen and Louisa fast asleep on the couch. He made a drink for them both and took them into the lounge. "Louisa? Louisa, I've made a drink for you."

She opened her eyes, taking in his concerned face. Sitting up she made room for him on the sofa, but he moved across to the chair with his drink. "I did a bit of tidying and now I'm exhausted again. Why do I feel like this? Is my anaemia back?"

"That is a possibility. With you being ill I haven't checked it. I'll take a sample at lunchtime and send it off for analysis. I think though, it's just the effects of the baby, and the cold."

"Right. Something to look forward to. Not!"

"Caroline called. She has her talk shop tomorrow afternoon and has given me a time slot. I have to go into the studio and make my announcement and then people will call in to the station with their questions. I don't expect any about what's happening, only fodder for tittle-tattle!"

"You never know. Maybe the villagers have mellowed?"

His incredulous look made her want to laugh, although she did realise, he disliked his privacy being invaded.

He stood up, "if we've any salad left, I'll make sandwiches at lunchtime. Is that good for you?"

"Yes, that will be fine, Martin." She agreed.

"What would you like for tea? There's some cod, or salmon left. Would you like either of those with new potatoes and veg?" Martin's question gave her pause for thought.

"We've not had salmon for a while. I'd like that, please."

He looked pleased and then returned to the surgery.

She did some more reading and then made the sandwiches for lunch.

When he came back, he just looked at the meal. "Feeling a bit better?"

"Yes, although I'm going for a nap later. I guess it will do me good, as well."

"How did your morning go?"

"Three out of five patients told me I'd no right to close the surgery on a Saturday. As they all worked, I asked them how many days a week, they worked? One said 4.5 days and the others said 5. I told them I worked 5.5 days a week, not counting call-outs in the middle of the night, or visiting hospital to check up on my patients who were in there. They shut up then. Only one had the grace to look shame-faced at that snippet of information."

Louisa looked sympathetically at him. "Maybe you can tell people that on Caroline's show, tomorrow? Plus you also have the backing of the PCT."

"No, I'll just tell them I'm a family man now, and I need time for you and the baby."

Having finished their lunch Martin returned to work and Louisa washed up before going for her nap.

After their tea that night, Martin asked if she wanted to go on a short walk, up to the seat on the hill?

"Yes, we can always come back if I can't make it."

It was a nice evening, with no clouds in the sky. The sun was setting in the distance. They walked slowly and carefully up to the seat. "Whew! That was a bit harder than I thought it would be," she confessed.

"Well, we'll sit here for a while and then return slowly back again. We don't have anything to get back for."

They watched the setting sun until it was almost gone and then returned home.

Martin ushered Louisa back to the sofa with the promise of a drink to come. She sat back and was pleased to see some hot chocolate appear on the coffee table. "You're spoiling me."

"True, but just while you are out of sorts. Normal service will be resumed shortly," he countered.

Despite herself, she laughed. "Thank you, Handsome. Hopefully normal service will soon return."

The next day Martin phoned the school again to say that Louisa wouldn't return until Monday. The secretary sent warm wished to her, from everyone at the school.

He left a note for Louisa telling her what he'd done and passing on the good wishes.

When he went into the surgery, he asked Pauline to re-arrange the appointments around the time he would be away at the radio station.

"Whatcha doing on there, Doc?"

"Telling people in the outlying areas about the changes to the opening times of the surgery."

"A lot of folks are grumbling about it, already. Several have mentioned it, to me." She informed him.

"Hm. Well, they'll just have to get used to it."

That afternoon, he was at the station a quarter of an hour before the scheduled talk. While a record was played, he was shown into the soundproof area, and the use of the microphone demonstrated, again.

"And now we have our very own Doc Martin. Tell me Doc, what is happening at the surgery?"

"Well, Caroline, as from the first Saturday in June I will be closing the surgery for the first and third Saturdays in the month. People will be able to call 111 for medical advice, or if it is an emergency, they can call 999 for an ambulance."

"Why do they need to do that? You've always been open on a Saturday morning!"

Martin bristled at the tone of her voice, but realised she was trying to annoy him. "As most of you are aware I got married last year, and now we are expecting a baby in July. I therefore, want to spend some time with them for a full weekend. Closing the surgery means I can do that."

"Well it seems to me Doc that it's a bit unfair, now everyone has got used to your being open, then."

"Everyone managed when I was away on holiday, and they'll manage again when I take my paternity leave when the baby is due."

"Oh, so you're closing the surgery again in July!"

"I'm expecting to get a locum in for that time, or arrange with Dr Lewis from Wadebridge to cover for me. That worked well when I was on holiday."

"I'm going to open the phone lines for any questions. Call Radio Portwenn to speak to Doc Martin."

Immediately the switchboard lit up and the technician gave Caroline the thumbs up. She picked a caller at random and said, "You are through to Caroline, what is your question?"

"Doc, what about us people who work Monday to Friday and can't come in until Saturday morning?" Frank Skinner sounded very aggrieved.

"Well Mr Skinner, I will be open on the second and fourth Saturday, each month. Occasionally there will be a fifth Saturday as well." Martin pointed out the positives.

"Dawn Lamb, here Doc. What if we become sick when you aren't around? What are we supposed to do then?"

"You can still phone 111 for general advice, or 999 for emergencies. They don't stop working."

"The Doc works hard for us. He's entitled to week-end time off like anyone else." Bert Large entered the fray to defend Martin's decision.

"The Doc has permission from the Primary Care Trust to do this, so carry on making all this fuss and they might say for him to shut every Saturday! Think on that!" Bert was becoming excitable at the way the conversation was going.

Caroline interjected, "We don't need to become agitated by this, we need to listen to the reasons."

"As I said earlier, I now need to factor in time for my family and this is the way I've decided to do it. My receptionist, Pauline, will be arranging the appointments as usual and will remind people of when we are open."

Caroline stopped the interview there. "We're running out of time now, so it's time to thank Doc Martin for outlining the procedures for the new opening times of his surgery."

Another record was put on and Caroline thanked Martin for coming on the show.

Martin acknowledged her for giving him the time to do it. He bade farewell and lost no time leaving the studio. For once, he'd managed to conduct an interview without swearing or losing his temper. Progress!