Chapter 40

The rest of the week passed in a fairly similar way. On Saturday morning Louisa looked through her computer to find something for Martin. There was a book about the life of a watchmaker, George Daniels, which she thought would interest Martin. She put the order in, noting that it would be delivered by Monday.

Satisfied by that she then turned her attention to the never-ending domestic chores. To be fair to Martin, he did his share. Always in an unobtrusive way and skilfully done too.

She made a chicken sandwich for lunch and waited for Martin to reappear. He was half an hour early and she remarked upon it.

"Yes, there was a hitch with a couple of appointments in that the patients thought they were for next week, and so didn't turn up today. They both have non-life-threatening illnesses so a week either way won't matter."

They ate their lunch and Martin dropped Louisa off at Joan's. He proceeded to Wadebridge and had his haircut. Then it was off to the card shops and newsagents for a card for Louisa. He was in his third shop when he found a card that he deemed suitable. He purchased it and added it into his medical bag, out of the way of Louisa. That accomplished he spent another half an hour wandering round before he bought some salmon steaks. They would make a light main meal tonight.

"Hello, Louisa!" was Joan's cheery greeting. "How are you today?"

"I'm good, Joan. Thank you. I'm starting to feel much rounder now."

"Nonsense, you still look very slim. Now come in and we'll have some tea."

"Yes," laughed Louisa. "The nation's cure for everything."

They sat comfortably at the kitchen table where a fresh sponge cake decorated the middle of it. "It's got fruit in it, so it's nutritional," explained Joan, with a twinkle in her eye.

Louisa smiled widely at this nod to Martin's concern about extraneous calories. "What's new in the village, Joan?"

"Well, you know Bert's home from the hospital? Apparently, he's already driving Al Bodmin with his requests for this that and the other!"

Louisa nodded. "I'm going to see him tomorrow, as Martin's on call for Wadebridge surgery. He agreed to do it in return for our going to Falmouth last week," she elaborated.

Joan said "Perhaps a different lot of patients will throw up something other than flu and sprained ankles? You never know, he could find a totally new disease and it will be called Ellingham's Syndrome!" They giggled over this last piece of nonsense.

"I didn't have a scan at my last check-up, so I've no picture for you. They did say I was on course for my dates, and that I've only put a couple of pounds on which is well within expectations. As you can imagine Martin told me I had to be careful because once gained, it would be difficult to get off again."

Joan shook her head. "He does know how to irritate folk, doesn't he? As he does the majority of the cooking, he can see exactly what you are eating and knows that you are walking to school, plus all the getting up and down you do in the classroom!"

"Joan, I know he's got my best interests at heart, and he is a good man. Perhaps I shouldn't tease him so much. He's still a bit worried about being a father, you know."

Martin's aunt nodded and went on to explain that as she only saw him during the summer holidays it had been difficult to find out exactly what was happening at home, or school. "He used to arrive at the station and was very closed off. It took a long time for him to open out again. I was sure he was being bullied, but he didn't tell us anything."

Louisa bit her lip. "I think he was being abused at home, too, Joan."

Joan's eyes became teary. "We wondered about that because he dreaded going home. We couldn't find out and do something about it as Christopher had money and would have hired lawyers to fight any case we brought up. Not only that but he would have claimed his half of the farm, as he tried to do a couple of years ago."

Louisa put her hand on top of Joan's and said, "He's a remarkable man, and that is thanks to you and Phil, too. You gave him a sanctuary when he most wanted it."

Joan sniffled for a while and then shook herself. "How about we make another cuppa. I don't suppose Martin will be long now?"

They'd just got themselves seated back at the table when the Lexus pulled up outside. "Told you so," said Joan.

"Hi Martin, we're just having another cup of tea. Would you like some?"

"Er, yes I will, thanks." He washed his hands and took his seat next to Louisa. She put her hand out to his and he clasped it gently.

"I see you got your usual cut. Why don't you let it grow a bit longer, there's no need to get it chopped back to that extent," Louisa remarked on this nearly every time he had his hair done.

"It's less bother this way and I don't have to worry that it's going to look untidy when I go out on an emergency call," he patiently explained for the umpteenth time.

"Well, I'd like to see it longer!" She tossed her head and her ponytail swished from side to side.

Martin sighed. "How are you, Joan? Any problems?"

"You mean, aside from old age and a farm to run?" Joan was forthright in her reply.

Martin recalled that the sheep had been taken off her hands by Phil Pratt. "Isn't there less work, now the sheep have gone?"

"Yes Martin, but there's still the vegetables to be seen to, and the chickens. That's quite a bit of work for me."

"I could hire someone to come and give you a hand if you want?" was his offer.

"No thankyou Martin. I'll continue as I am." Joan was determined to remain in sole charge of the farm.

Once they'd finished their drinks, Louisa and Martin bid goodnight to Joan and went home.

On Sunday, Martin was up early and dressed by the time Louisa came downstairs. "Morning Martin," she greeted him.

"Hello, what do you want for breakfast?" he tossed over his shoulder, and then jumped when two arms snaked around his waist.

"You!"

"Louisa, you know I'm on call for today. I got up and got ready because it will save time if the phone goes," he explained.

She kissed him and he relented a little. "Maybe tonight?" he said hopefully?

Louisa gave him a small smile, "If you play your cards right…."

"I'm just going to have cereal this morning. I don't feel up to eating much."

Martin walked across to her and put the back of his hand on her forehead. "You're not febrile, do you have any aches or pains?" His concern was very evident and she withheld the impulse to snap at him.

"No, I'm fine really, just not in the mood to eat much. I daresay I'll make up for it at lunch or dinner."

"Hmm," was all he said.

She finished her breakfast and then went up to shower and dress. She was brushing her hair when he popped his head around the door and told her he'd been called out to somewhere the far side of Wadebridge.

"OK, drive safely. I'll see you when I see you," she smiled her special smile which made his heart beat faster.

"Love you." And was gone.

Louisa pottered around for an hour and then decided it was time to go and see Bert.

Walking carefully down the steps to make sure she didn't slip she approached the door to the restaurant. Al opened the door and greeted her warmly, "Hi Louiser, it's good to see you!"

She smiled and explained she'd come for a brief visit with Bert. They went inside and Louisa saw that Bert was sat on the couch, and looking quite cheerful.

"Hello my luvver, and how are you keeping Louiser? I heard about your good news."

"I'm well, Bert. However, I've come to ask you the same question!" She looked him over and could see that he'd lost weight. (Martin will be pleased, she thought.)

"Oh, I'm OK. People keep fussing over me and won't let me do anything, unless it is to prod me into doing my exercises," he grumbled. "And, I can't have my puds!"

"Bert, you know this is for your own good, don't you? You look a lot better now than when you first went into hospital. How's that collar bone, has that healed satisfactorily?"

"Yeah. They said I should try and use my arm more now, Louiser. I'm managing to get dressed on my own, except for my socks, of course!"

Louisa smiled, "Well Bert I expect in a few months' time, I might have that problem myself."

It took Bert a moment, but then he saw the funny side. His face broke out into a grin and then he guffawed. "Oh Louiser, I'm glad I don't have what you've got!"

"Al, how are you? Are your ribs healing properly, now?"

"Sure Louiser, but like Dad says, I can't do much more than dress, and I've stopped wearing socks!"

They began talking about things in general in the village until it was time for Louisa to go.

Returning to the surgery she got out her school marking and proceeded to finish it off. Thinking about Martin, she wondered where he'd got to.

Martin, meanwhile had input the post code he'd been given into the car's sat-nav, and was driving swiftly through Wadebridge, across the Camel Bridge and onto Polmorla Road. This was sparsely populated and he was able to go a tad faster. The road made a right turn and soon he was on the edge of a little village, St Breock. The sat-nav was, fortunately, still operational and he pulled up outside a small cottage. As he did so a man came out to greet him. "Dr Ellingham?" When Martin nodded, he held out his hand and introduced himself, "Max Garvey. Come this way Doctor. It's my wife, she's been complaining of chest pains since yesterday evening," he explained.

They went into the front room where Mrs Garvey was reclining on a small couch.

"Mrs Garvey? I'm Dr Ellingham. I'm standing in for Dr Lewis. Can you tell me what happened please?" As he spoke, he noted her pallor and slight sweat on her upper lip.

"I had a chest pain during the night, but it wore off for a while. It recurred this morning as I was getting breakfast ready. I felt sick so didn't have any breakfast. It seems to be getting worse."

Martin got out his stethoscope and listened to her heart. "Have you pain anywhere else?"

"My back and shoulders are aching now."

"Mrs Garvey, I'm going to call an ambulance, as I think you may be having an angina attack." Martin went outside and called the ambulance. He was told it would be there in about 20 minutes.

Going back inside he asked Mrs Garvey, "Do you have any other symptoms, at all?"

She shook her head.

"What about other medication? Are you taking tablets for anything else?" Again, she shook her head.

"I'm going to give you some aspirin which will help to mitigate the pain and also prevent blood clots building up." Turning to Mr Garvey he said, "Can you get a glass of water for your wife?"

When Mr Garvey returned Martin gave her two aspirin and told her to swallow them down. She did so and then gulped some water down as well. She lay back on the couch, her colour wasn't good.

"Will she be alright, Doc? What will they do in hospital?" Mr Garvey by now, was starting to panic.

"When you get to hospital you will be assessed by the A&E staff who will check your blood pressure, give you an ECG test and likely some other tests. It is also possible that you may need a small operation, depending upon the results of your tests.

"What's an ECG, Doc?"

"Electrocardiogram. They put pads on various parts of your body and it records the movement of your heart. A graph will show how your heart is beating and any obvious malfunctions. You may also have an angiogram which will show up any blockages in the arteries and veins in your heart."

Five minutes later the ambulance was there and Mrs Garvey and her husband were taken to A&E. Martin left to go home.

As he travelled back over the bridge another telephone call came in. "Ellingham"

"Dr Ellingham, can you make a house call to Gonvena Hill, Wadebridge? My son Laurence has had a fall from a tree and is complaining of a bad headache, as well as having a huge shiner."