Chapter 34

Later, after Joan had gone, Martin looked very tired. Louisa did not try to talk to him, just waited and then said, "I'm going for a shower and then I'll have an early night. See you later."

Martin nodded and then closed his eyes. All he could see was Al's anguish as he watched his father being loaded into the ambulance on a backboard, and then being driven away. Even in the hospital he'd not said a great deal, just brushed off his own injuries.

Martin had felt totally helpless, being unable to do much more than act as a chauffeur to get Pauline and Al to the hospital. In the A&E he'd not been able to use his surgical skills and felt totally side-lined as other doctors took the lead. It was not a feeling he was accustomed to.

He got up and made sure the kitchen was tidy before slowly making his way to bed. Louisa was still in the shower, so he knocked before entering. The sight of her was enough to send his pulse racing and make him wonder again what she saw in him. Louisa smiled at him and then noticed the strain on his face. Grabbing the towel, she wrapped it loosely around her body. Martin moved slowly forward and began to rub her gently, dry. He assisted her out of the shower and pulled her close, bending his head to kiss her. Neither of them noticed when the towel fell to the floor. They moved backwards into the bedroom, with Louisa trying to unbutton his jacket and shirt. As she stood there she shivered and the small movement alerted Martin to her state of undress and the chill in the bedroom. He pulled the quilt back and pushed her gently down, covering her up. "I'll be back in a minute," he said indicating the bathroom.

She lay there waiting for him when he returned. He quickly finished undressing and the joined her in bed. Louisa reached up to stroke his face and then reached up to kiss him. He pulled her to his body and their passion ignited. Suddenly they couldn't get enough of each other. Their release was total with spoken words of delight and wonder. Martin pulled her over towards him as he settled onto his back.

"Want to talk about it?" she asked him, as she snuggled into his warm body.

"I can't discuss my patients, Louisa. Not even for you," was his automatic response.

"I'm not asking you to. I'm asking you to tell me about your reactions. I could see that you were very upset and as your wife, it is my concern for you."

"Hmm. I couldn't do anything, Louisa. I could only look on as a helpless bystander. The fear on Al's face was something I don't ever wish to see again." Martin hugged her convulsively as he shook from his emotions.

Wisely she kept quiet and let him rid himself of his fears. Eventually he stopped shaking and just sank back down. "There will be more situations in which you are a bystander. I'm sure you've had them in the past as well. Eventually you will come to terms with the happenings of the day and be able to move on. It may be that you will be stronger for it, but you could equally feel weakened by them. I want you to know that I will love you, either way."

She looked up at him with tears in her eyes. He could see the love and was heartened by it. "Thank you," he whispered.

Finally, they both managed to go to sleep.

On Sunday Martin telephoned the hospital to enquire about his patients. As expected, Mrs Godfrey-Carstairs had gone home with her husband. She would return to A&E if there was excessive pain in her arm, or in 6 weeks' time to have the cast removed.

There was also good news, of a sort, about Bert. The laceration to his spleen had proved small enough for it to be repaired. The collar bone would need a support bandage, but wasn't expected to cause too much discomfort. However, the COPD was a concern and he would be advised about his lifestyle before his discharge. Martin was told that Mr Large, junior, had been in touch earlier, and would visit his father later in the day. "Thank you, I will come in myself to see him as well."

Martin went back into the kitchen to relay to Louisa as much as he could, without betraying patient confidentiality. He also told her that he was going to visit Bert to check up, personally. Unfortunately, he couldn't take her with him, today. Perhaps later in the week she would be able to visit.

"That's fine, Martin. I expect that it's only close family who can visit at the moment. Those and Joe Penhale to ascertain the facts of the accident!" She smiled impishly. "Glad I don't have to witness that!"

She'd just finished speaking when there was a knock on the front door. Opening it, Constable Penhale greeted her asking if Martin was available.

"Yes, come on through, Joe."

Hearing the policeman's voice Martin grimaced and then braced himself for the expected barrage of questions which he would almost certainly be unable to answer.

"Morning, Doc," was Penhale's loud greeting. "I've come to ask you for a statement about last night's accident."

"I can't discuss my patients, as you well know, Penhale. Suffice it to say that the three casualties all required hospital treatment which was duly given. Al Large and Mrs Godfrey-Carstairs were fit enough to be released, while Bert Large remains in hospital for further treatment." Martin was succinct in his delivery and Joe looked crestfallen at not being able to have any more information.

"Right-o, Doc. I've looked at the tyre tracks which were left and it appears that it was the lady driver at fault. I'll get statements from Al and Bert. I'm guessing Bert won't be up to talking much yet?"

Martin looked at him, "No, I'd wait until at least Tuesday before asking him anything. You should find Al at home, as he was allowed out last night."

"Thanks, Doc. See you later." Joe left with a pleased smile on his face. At least he'd get to interview one participant.

Martin wrote up his notes and then phoned Al to offer him and Pauline a lift to the hospital. Al refused, saying that he'd hired a car whilst the insurance companies sorted out the respective claims.

After lunch Martin set off for the hospital, and Louisa began her marking and lesson planning for the next day. After completing those tasks, she decided to do a chicken casserole for tea and assembled the necessary ingredients. She hoped Martin would be glad of a hot dinner tonight. Especially as the weather had turned cold with a lot of rain.

Bert was in an A&E ward when Martin called. He would be transferred to a general surgery ward once a bed was available. Martin could see Al and Pauline at the bedside but couldn't see if Bert was awake until he got much closer.

"Afternoon, Doc," said Al. "I'm glad you came cos' Dad is upsetting himself with the thought that he could die any minute. He won't take my word for it that he won't."

Martin nodded at Bert by way of greeting. "Bert, COPD or Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, is not immediately life threatening, but it is non-curable. Medicines to widen the airway passages in your lungs are available in increasing strengths as you need them. You will be given instructions as to what to do by way of exercise and diet to help yourself, but also instructions on how to use whatever prescriptions you are given. Do you understand?"

Bert looked up at Martin, "So I'm not going to die, tomorrow, then Doc?"

"Not from COPD, however I cannot guarantee you a long life, especially if you don't follow the instructions of the medical team here." Martin seized upon the chance to get Bert to look after himself, better than he currently did. "If you go back to eating everything in sight and get no exercise, then I'm afraid you will die sooner rather than later. The choice is yours."

Martin picked up the notes from the end of the bed and read through them. "I see they managed to repair your spleen, which is good because you will be better able to fight off infection. Your collarbone will heal itself if you take care not to do too much with that arm in the short term. The bandage is just a support measure designed to let you do some movement but not too much. Now, are there any questions you would like to ask?"

"Does this mean I have to forgo my puds, then Doc?" Bert asked with a mournful glance at Martin.

"For Heavens' sake Bert, did you listen to anything I just said?" Martin's voice began to rise, until he noticed the half-smile on Bert's face. "OK Bert, I see you're winding me up, again."

For once Bert's face assumed a genuine look of gratitude. "Thanks Doc. It's good to know you will be there to look out for me when I come home."

"Er yes, well see you do what you're told and that will be sooner rather than later. Right, I must be off." Martin's discomfiture at being thanked/praised was again in evidence.

"Bye Al, Pauline – I'll see you in the morning?"

"Yeah Doc, I'll be there."

Martin turned on his heel and left them to their chat. He went to the nurse's station to see if Dr Cuthbertson was on duty. Luckily, he was, so Martin had a quick talk to him to find out Bert's prognosis.

"He's sure to progress quite quickly in terms of both the spleen repair and the healing of the collarbone, and we've caught the COPD at a relatively early stage. Obviously, I can't state categorically that the disease will not advance rapidly, but I have high hopes that it won't."

Martin agreed and asked him to emphasise the diet and light physical exercise. "As you can see, he's not a man in peak condition!"

Cuthbertson smiled and said he'd do his best. They parted and Martin went back to Portwenn.

Walking into the kitchen at home and being assailed by the smell of the casserole was heart-warming indeed. "Louisa! I'm back."

"Coming Martin. You were a little longer than I thought?"

"Yes, I called into the garage for some fuel and I got you these." He pulled out a small bouquet of flowers from behind his back.

Her eyes lit up and she went and gave him a big hug. "Ooh, thank you Martin."

He could see she was delighted with them. "How've you been?"

"Fine. I got caught up on my schoolwork and so decided to put a chicken casserole in. Thought you'd appreciate a good hot meal."

"Hmm, yes. Thank you."

Shortly they sat down and enjoyed their meal. Martin washed up and made tea. He'd just told Louisa that Bert was awake when he got there and seemingly thought he could die at any minute! "I told him he wouldn't, but if he didn't change his lifestyle there would be no guarantees."

"Oh! How did he take that?"

"Cheeky blighter asked me if that meant he had to give up his "puds"? I was about to explode when I caught sight of a grin. So, I think he will do all right."

"That's our Bert, always ready with a joke. He really believes in that "go-with-the-flow" attitude, doesn't he?"

Martin scowled, "I wish he'd go-with-the-flow of my advice at times!"

"Well Martin, you can always hope." Louisa smiled at him and then reached out and picked up her book.

"I'm going to go and look at my latest clock project. It's been a bit neglected lately." Martin announced.

Louisa waved her hand in recognition of what he'd said, but was too engrossed in her novel to really mind.