Chapter 46
In the surgery, Friday brought the usual range of conditions and maladies. Many of them not really worth mentioning in the first place, but some requiring a prescription. After he'd had his mid-morning coffee, he returned to the surgery to find that the next patient was Malcolm Raynor. "Come through."
He seated himself behind his desk, looking at Malcolm for any visible lumps, and not seeing any. "Mr Raynor, are you here about the lump you said you'd found?"
"Yeah Doc. I found it on me neck, like. It felt really big and I thought it must be dangerous. That's why I called you."
"Open your shirt and show me the lump."
Malcolm complied and pointed to a small lump just above his collarbone and at the lower point of his neck.
Martin donned a pair of gloves and palpated the lump gently. It felt soft and moved as he pushed it. He looked around Malcolm's neck and couldn't see anything else untoward.
"Mr Raynor, I think you have a lipoma.."
Before he could say anything else, Malcolm whipped his head around, "See, I said it was serious, innit Doc?"
Martin sighed. "I said lipoma, Mr Raynor not carcinoma which would have been more serious. A lipoma is a small fatty lump which is generally benign and can linger for quite some time. It is not dangerous and could grow or get smaller. I'll take a small biopsy sample and send it off for an analysis, but I do not expect there to be a problem here." He took the sample, placing it in a small tube before labelling it. "Did either of your parents have these lumps? There can be a heredity link in this condition.
Malcolm shook his head. "I dunno, Doc. They never said so, to me."
"Hmm, well make another appointment for this time next week. I should have the results of the biopsy back by then. Was there anything else?"
Malcolm said "No, thanks Doc." And then left.
Martin wrote up the notes before calling for his next patient. He was glad for the lunch break so that he could go and see Louisa.
"How was your morning, Louisa?" he asked when they were sat down to lunch.
"Not bad. I took a slow stroll down to the shops to get some fresh bread and some monkfish for you."
"Are you sure you were up to going that far? Thank you, for the monkfish, by the way."
"Well, I thought I'd better get some practice in as I'm going back to school next week. No point in going in, if I'm not up to it, is there?"
Martin conceded her point, but was quick to say he thought she could take a few days off to be really sure that she was up to it.
"I'll be fine, Martin. If I'm not OK on Monday, I'll phone in and ask for a few days off, then."
Martin had to be content with this answer and left shortly after to go back to work.
The rest of the day passed slowly for Louisa, who read a few pages of her book and then opted for a nap, and quickly for Martin who had a sudden rush of people wanting sicknotes or repeat prescriptions before the weekend. When Pauline shouted out that the last patient had left, Martin was very relieved. Pauline tidied her desk and filed the patient notes before leaving as soon as she could. Martin went and locked the front door before mopping the floors and cleaning the lavatory. At last, he was able to walk through to the kitchen, where he found Louisa pulling roasted vegetables from the oven and placing the monkfish in to cook.
He went across and pulled her into a hug, growling a sigh of relief. She looked up at him and asked "Tough afternoon?"
"Hmm. Have I got time to go and wash-up before dinner?"
"Yes, if you're quick." She patted his bum as he turned to leave.
"Watch it. There can be consequences for that sort of behaviour!"
"Ooh, I'm so scared." She pulled a face at him. "Go, or your dinner will be cold."
As he went upstairs, he was smiling to himself and suddenly, in a much better frame of mind.
When he came down again the table was set, the vegetables were in serving dishes and the monkfish was just being put onto their plates. "This looks good, and I'm ready for it as well!"
"Yes, I've noticed that you've not been eating as well as you used to. Problem?"
"Nothing in particular, just general stresses and strains of living with you." Martin was treading thin ice but if he played his cards right the outcome might be very much to his liking.
And so, it proved.
Louisa cautiously stretched as she lay in bed. Once or twice last night she'd had to grimace as a slight movement off-line had caused a momentary pain, but the result had definitely been worth it.
She thought about what she would do this morning. The housework was more or less up to date, they didn't need any shopping and, as Martin was still at work, she couldn't leave the village. Looking at the clock she saw the time was getting on and decided to get up, anyway.
She picked out her clothes and then went for a shower. Soon she was downstairs, deliberating between toast and marmalade or porridge? She opted for the former and was just sitting down to it when Joan popped her head around the door.
"Morning Louisa, how are you today?"
"Much better Joan, thank you. Come in and have a cup of tea." Louisa invited Martin's aunt to stay and visit for a while.
"Just a quick one, then. I've still got one or two deliveries to make."
"Anything new cropped up in the village, Joan?"
"Yes, you remember Dulcie Brewster?" at Louisa's nod she went on, "turns out she's getting married to Simon Baxter, later on this summer!"
Louisa's eyes went wide, "Really? I thought she'd decided to remain encumbrance free?"
Joan laughed. "Well, you never know when love will come calling, do you?"
"I suppose not. I expect there was plenty of wondering about me, before I met Martin?"
"Even then I didn't think you two would get married. Chalk and cheese the pair of you. Just shows how wrong you can be, doesn't it?"
Louisa finished her breakfast and washed the pots up. "Joan, would you give me a lift to the library when you've done your deliveries, please? I've finished the books I have and would like some new ones. Only if you have time, that is," she amended hastily.
"Of course. How will you get home?"
"I'll walk, thanks. I need to do some exercise and this seems like a good way of doing that. Mind you I will only be getting a couple of books. Not my usual armful!" Louisa laughed.
"Right, I'll come back for you in about half-an-hour," agreed Joan. She left quickly, smiling to herself.
Louisa decided she'd better go and get ready straight away. She heard Martin shout her and called back, "Won't be long," before heading back down to the kitchen.
He was stood making his coffee when she got there. She went over and hugged him, "Morning, handsome."
"Mm." said Martin. "How are you today?"
"Better after last night," she retorted.
He blushed, and then said "Me too." Whereupon it was her turn to blush.
"Joan's been. She's going to take me to the library when she comes back." Louisa saw his frown beginning, so she hastened to add, "I'm only getting a couple of books, and the walk back will be good for me."
"Are you sure? It's further than you have been, in these last few days?"
Louisa assured him she would be fine. "I can sit on the seats down by the Platt if I need to."
"Right, well I'll see you later," he said and dropped a quick kiss on her lips before picking up his coffee, and going back to work.
Louisa collected her books to return, grateful that she was getting a lift to the library, and got her coat ready. The weather outside was windy, but at least the sun was shining.
The mobile library visited a location in Mayfield Road on a regular basis, which made for a fairly long walk back, but Louisa felt that she could make it if she took her time. She thanked Joan, and entered the library bus.
She looked around the shelves and eventually settled on a detective story by Peter Robinson – Banks – and also a Readers Guide to Classical music. Martin liked that sort of music, so he might read the book as well.
She had her books stamped, and set off for home. Down towards the bay along Trewetha Lane and then she branched off to Rose Hill Road, then down to Fore Street. She was glad of the seats outside the pub and sat there for a while collecting her breath. After ten minutes or so, she gathered her strength and her bag before moving off to home.
When she arrived, Martin was in the kitchen, looking slightly worried. "There you are! I thought I'd have to send out a search party."
"You know where I've been! It is a longish walk, especially as I was taking it steady. I sat at the tables outside the Crab and Lobster for a while, to get my breath back, as well." Louisa explained her route and he knew that she'd done the shortest way possible.
"Right. I was concerned you'd overdone it." He looked down at his feet, sheepishly.
"Louisa, do you want some of the ham salad I made?"
She accepted and they were soon sitting down to their lunch. "Martin, I brought home a Reader's Guide to Classical music for myself, but you can have a look at it too, if you want?"
"Yes, I might get time to glance through it. What's your other book?"
"A detective story about an Inspector Banks. It's based in Yorkshire, and I thought it would be totally different to around here."
"Hmm," he said in a totally disinterested way.
"What are you doing this afternoon, Martin? I thought we could go for a drive round and then call in to a suitable hostelry for our dinner? I'd like something other than fish, tonight."
He sighed. He'd hoped to spend some time on his hobby but that clearly was out of the question. "Tell you what. You have a lie down and I'll book us a table at the Molesworth Arms in Wadebridge, for six, tonight. Apparently, it has a 5-star rating, so should meet basic hygiene standards. How does that sound?"
"I suppose you're right. It was a long walk this morning, if I'm honest. Yes, that will be good, Martin."
"Well, you pop up to bed now, and I'll wash up, hmm?"
She went over and gave him a kiss. "I know when I'm not wanted. See you later."
Martin grasped her arm and pulled her closer, "Then you have the wrong impression. You are always wanted," he said huskily.
Her eyes sparkled as she looked up at him. "Maybe later, you can prove that?"
It so happened that Louisa was quite satisfied with the way the rest of the day, panned out.