Chapter 31
He still found it difficult to think of himself as a father. At times he felt sure he would make lots of mistakes but then he would think of Louisa, and her saying she would need help as well. He'd started to read up about fatherhood on the internet, discounting a lot of it as puerile sentimentality, but one phrase had resonated with him. "A parent's place is in the wrong." Did that mean that all parents made mistakes? Would he realise he'd made an error and be able to correct it? He knew he'd been harshly treated as a boy and was concerned that he would turn out to be just as awful as his own parents had been. Sighing, he had a quick look around the room which was all in readiness for the next day, and then went through to the kitchen.
"Hello," whispered quietly from his mouth as he contemplated Louisa busy cooking tea.
She turned and flashed him one of her beautiful smiles and said, "Be with you in a minute."
"Anything I can do to help?"
"No, I'm about done here. Have a seat and I'll dish up."
He sat down and waited. Eventually tea was served and they started to eat. She'd made a lemon sole with a side salad. A step up in her culinary expertise. "This is good," he complimented her.
"Thank you, Martin, a compliment indeed!"
He looked at her, unsure if she was being serious or sarcastic. "I meant it. This really is good."
She was aware that he didn't know what to make of her last comment and so explained further. "I think you are an excellent cook, yourself, and so a good remark from you is praise indeed."
Martin blushed and then tried to demur.
He pulled at his ear and thought of Joan's visit. "By the way, Joan was in earlier and I asked her to tea on Saturday. I said I'd cook something other than fish, so that increased her interest! Five o'clock. Is that all right?"
"Yes, that's fine. It's been a while since we had a visit from her. Is she OK?" Louisa asked casually and was unprepared for Martin's frown.
"She did look a bit pale, but when I asked, she put it down to fighting off a cold. She seemed to be doing all the right things. A meal out should help her recovery!"
They washed up and retired to the sofa, cup of tea in hand.
"Oh, I've had a long day," complained Louisa. "It wasn't helped by going to get my tablets from Mrs Tishell. Does she have to interrogate people as though she were the Stasi?"
"She's following good procedures and checking that people are getting the right medication," Martin explained. "It's good to know that she is helping to guard the safety of the community, at times."
"Well, she seems to take a particular delight in throwing her weight around whenever I see her," Louisa wasn't about to give way in her criticism.
For once Martin realised that he wouldn't get anywhere and changed the subject. "Are you happy with the decorations and new flooring?"
Louisa brightened, "More than happy. I think it's made a big difference to the cottage, don't you?"
He agreed and they continued to talk in a desultory fashion until bedtime.
The next morning, they were sat having breakfast when Martin's phone went. "Ellingham" was his crisp response. He listened as the other person began gabbling and trying to explain but kept repeating himself. "Listen to me," he ordered, "slow down and tell me what has happened."
He heard the man on the other end inhale convulsively, but then began to speak more slowly. "I's my mother, Doc. She's fallen down on the garden path. Her forehead is bleeding but she's having a fit! It won't stop!"
Martin asked the man to phone for an ambulance and then asked for his name and his mother's address. Upon receiving those he said "Stay with your mother, I'm on my way."
To Louisa he said "Emergency, will probably take me more than an hour. Love you, bye." And then he went off to pick up his bag. Louisa was left looking somewhat bemused and weakly echoed "Love you too" before picking up the empty cups and plates and washing them up. She went upstairs to put on her make-up and collect her bag. Then she walked to school.
The children were good that day. Everyone worked well on their lessons and none of the more unruly pupils played up. At breaktime it was her turn for yard duty and so she stood outside watching the various activities. She mused on what Junior would be like when s/he were at school. Would s/he be sports mad? Would s/he be academic like Martin?
She saw Pippa approaching and smiled hello. "Now then Louisa, how are things today?" Pippa almost always greeted people like that, but Louisa was a bit touchy lately about anyone finding out about the new arrival. Then common sense kicked in and she was able to say "So far, so good."
"I've got some news for you," Pippa leaned forward and said quietly, "I've applied for Joanna's job!"
An initial pang of envy shot through Louisa but she pulled herself together enough to say "Well done! I'm sure you'll make a great headteacher."
"Of course, I know I don't stand much of a chance against you, but I've got to remind the Governors that I'm here, alive and kicking!" Pippa gave a self-deprecating laugh.
"I haven't applied for it, Pippa." Louisa dropped her bombshell. "With everything that has happened over this last couple of years I feel I need to take stock of where I am and what it is that I really want to do."
Pippa's jaw dropped in surprise. "Has Martin forbidden you to apply for it then?"
"What? No! He told me he would be happy with whatever I decided to do. I wish you would get over this idea that somehow, he's an ogre. He's no such thing!" Louisa's eyes flashed "and I'd thank you not to make any more disparaging remarks about my husband!" She walked off back into the school, leaving Pippa to supervise the end of breaktime.
She was fuming, but as the children trailed back into class, she forced herself to smile and begin teaching them about poetry.
Martin, meanwhile, made haste to the address he'd been given and knocked furiously on the door. Getting no answer, he walked around the side of the house and saw a man kneeling beside a woman on the floor. "Mr Stark?"
The man looked around, "Oh, thank Heavens you're here, Doc. This is my mother, Sheila Stark. She told me she tripped and hit her head on the floor. When I got to her side she was twitching and there was a bloody cut on her forehead."
"Let me see, er Mrs Stark, can you hear me?" Martin was inspecting her for any other injury she may have. "Mrs Stark?" The woman turned her head in his direction, but she was only vaguely aware of his presence. He gently wiped the blood away from the cut on her head with some gauze he'd taken from his bag, somehow managing to quell his nausea. A lump had formed under the cut and was already bruising. He took her pulse, which was thready, but there. He shone his pen-torch into her eyes checking for pupil dilation. They did dilate, but very sluggishly. He turned to her son, "bring a pillow and a blanket, and then go and wait for the ambulance to come."
"What's wrong wi' her Doc?" as he turned anxious eyes towards Martin.
"I'm not 100% certain but I think the fall has caused your mother to have a blood clot develop in her brain. In turn that has caused the fitting you've seen. CT scans and X-rays will show more. Now go and get me the pillow, please."
Derek Stark rushed off to get the items requested, returning quickly. Martin gently lifted the woman's head, placing the pillow underneath it and covered her with the blanket.
"Will she be OK, Doc?"
"I can't say for certain, Mr Stark, but the sooner she gets to hospital the less damage will be done to her brain." Martin as usual gave his crisp explanation.
Mr Stark paled at the words 'brain and damage'. "Right, I'll go and wait for the ambulance." He walked away on legs which were a bit unsteady.
Martin administered some soluble aspirin in an attempt to keep her blood from clotting. He waited by her side, checking her vital signs for any variation.
When the paramedics reached them, Martin gave his synopsis of the problem, urging them to make haste to the hospital. He said that X-rays and a CT scan were of the utmost importance. As his mother was wheeled away Mr Stark said he would go with her.
When they got to the front of the house several neighbours were stood watching. Derek gave one lady some keys and asked her to lock the house up for him. "Of course, Derek. No problem."
As the ambulance drew away Martin returned to the garden to get his bag. The neighbour accompanied him, picking up the pillow and blanket as she went. "Will Sheila be all right Doc?" she asked. Martin turned to her and said "I can't discuss my patients."
He went back to the surgery and wrote up his notes. Pauline told him that several of the patients with early appointments had re-scheduled for later in the week. He nodded, "Give me 10 minutes Pauline, and then send the first one in."
Martin was glad to finish up after his last patient left. The rest of the day had been tedious with just "ordinary" complaints to deal with. Colds, headaches, sore throats, athlete's foot, none very taxing to his medical acumen.
He'd phoned the hospital to check on Mrs Stark, but the results of the X-rays and CT scan weren't available.
Louisa was in the kitchen, cooking tea. He went over to embrace her and have a swift look as to what it was. He saw his favourite monkfish (no butter) keeping warm with peas and roasted carrots just finished cooking. He nuzzled into her neck, making her wriggle and laugh, before she turned and kissed him.
"What's this in aid of?" he asked. "Are you trying to tell me something?"
"Now why would I need to butter you up, hmm? Is that a guilty conscience speaking? Have you done something you know I won't like?"
"No, no! Nothing like that. It's just that we don't have monkfish very often, and I wondered if there was a reason, today. That's all."
"No particular reason, Martin. I felt I needed cheering up and so decided to go to Eric's for some fish. This looked really good and I know you like it, so I bought it. OK?"
"Hmm, yes. Why do you need cheering up? What's happened at school?" as ever Martin had quickly deduced the cause of her discomfort.
"Oh, it's just that Pippa told me she'd applied for the head's job and I was forced to admit I hadn't. She then asked me if you'd put your foot down and said, no. I lost my temper and told her that you weren't an ogre and that you supported me whatever my decision. I then told her not to be making any more disparaging remarks like that, and stormed off."
He put his arms around her to give her a hug. "You don't have to defend me, you know. It's all water off a duck's back. I've had it most of my life so I'm used to it."
She turned teary eyes up at him. "That's just my point. You shouldn't have to put up with it. You are a wonderful doctor and husband. No-one should belittle you."
He hugged her tighter and kissed her head. "Come on, you'd better dish up tea or it will spoil."
She hugged him in return and then did as he'd suggested. Once tea was finished, she washed up and went to pick up her book. As she sat down next to him, he said "Did you regret your decision not to apply? There's still time if you want to change your mind."
Louisa turned to look at him. "Yes, I felt a pang of envy that Pippa was applying. However, I've made the right choice and I don't regret it. I've wanted to be a mother as well. That takes precedence now. I'm not getting any younger."
"Thank you, I'm very glad I married such a wonderful woman." He smiled at her.
She settled in alongside him and read before picking up her marking and moving to the kitchen table. Once or twice, she felt his eyes upon her, but she gave no indication.
They went to bed where Martin made it abundantly clear what he thought about her.