Chapter 53
Gathering up her things she began to make her way downhill again. At least the weather, although chilly, was a bit better than earlier in the week. The sun was shining and it was beginning to feel like spring.
A car horn sounded behind her and when she turned around to look, John, the landlord of the Crab and Lobster waved her over. "Do you want a lift back into the village, Louisa?" he asked.
Ever the practical one, Louisa was delighted to have this small kindness extended to her. She climbed gratefully in and asked him "How's things?"
"Pretty good, Louisa. We've been able to get someone to come and decorate the downstairs bars of the pub, and we'll have some new tables and chairs in there, as well." He sounded very happy to get things moving in that direction.
"That's good. Has business picked up again after the winter chills, then?"
"It has a bit, but truth be told, not as much as last year. We're down on takings, overall."
"Times are tough, John, in the village. I've heard a lot of the gossip that the fishing hasn't gone that well, either. I expect that will have a knock-on effect of people not being able to go out?"
John agreed. "I'm hoping that once the warmer weather gets here things will pick up again." He pulled into the pub car-park and Louisa thanked him for the lift, before making her way to Eric's.
The fish merchant was putting the finishing touches to his counter displays when she walked in. "Mornin' Louisa. You're out and about early today?"
Louisa smiled. "I couldn't sleep any longer this morning, for a change. Decided to get up and get going so as to be able to relax later."
She chose an assortment of fish before setting off to the supermarket.
On her way there several people spoke to her and asked after her health. She told most of them that she was fine and everything was going well.
Nearing the supermarket, she spotted Joan's truck parked outside and thought she would invite Martin's aunt back for a drink of tea.
Joan came bustling out of the store, almost colliding with Dave the postman, who was just going in. She stepped across to the truck, ready to heave another tray of veg out of the back when she spotted Louisa approaching. "What's got you out of bed so early, Louisa?" she twinkled.
"Just full of the joys of spring, Joan, I think." Louisa smiled back. "Have you got time for a cuppa, this morning? Martin and I are off to Wadebridge later."
Joan checked her watch, "Yes I'll see you in about three-quarters of an hour? Is that, OK?"
"Perfect Joan. I'll soon be finished in here and then I'll have time to unpack my shopping. See you shortly."
Joan said "Bye, for now," and climbed into the truck.
Louisa went inside, picking up a basket as she did so. She wandered around the shelves looking for the things on her list. She remembered to pick up the things Martin had asked for, and got the rest of the shopping as well.
As usual the bags were quite heavy and she was beginning to regret not waiting until the afternoon when Martin would be with her. She put them down and stood for a couple of minutes, idly watching the passers-by. Most of them greeted her, or waved. She acknowledged those she saw. Sighing she bent and picked up the bags, alternating the side of the heaviest bag. Walking slowly up Roscarrock Hill she was very glad to see the surgery.
Once inside she dumped the bags on the floor and sat down to take the weight off her feet. She looked ruefully at her shoes which had pinched her toes. She glanced at the time and went to put the kettle on, then she set about putting the shopping away.
Five minutes later and Joan's cheery voice sounded from the back door. The tray of veg she was carrying quickly made its way onto the counter top. "Just some left-overs, thought you would use them up," she commented.
"Oh, thanks Joan. We seem to go through veg at a fantastic rate, these days."
Once the kettle had boiled again, Louisa made the tea and offered Joan a scone, with some jam and cream.
"Yes please, Louisa. I need some energy to get home again," she laughed.
They were sat at the table discussing the latest happenings in the village when Martin came in for some coffee. "Hello, Auntie Joan."
"Morning Marty. How are you?"
"Well, thank you, and yourself?"
"Oh, fair to middling," said Joan.
Martin moved across to her before putting the backs of his fingers to her forehead.
"Marty! I said I'm well, not yet ready to shuffle off this mortal coil, thank you!"
"Hmm. You feel a bit hot, Auntie Joan."
"So would you if you'd just whisked all my veg around Portwenn in less than two hours!" she retorted.
He turned to look at Louisa and his eyebrows rose in mute enquiry.
"I'm fine Martin. That walk up the hill doesn't get any shorter," she laughed.
As ever, Martin was fascinated by her smile. "I don't know why you won't come shopping with me," he grumbled.
"Well for one thing, I'd have to tear you away from villagers wanting instant diagnoses on the streets, and for another your time off is precious, so the less domestic chores you have frees you up for something else."
It took Joan's snort of laughter to realise how that last sentence had come out.
Martin and Louisa both reddened. Then Louisa's sense of humour had her laughing too. Martin just said, "I'm going back to work," and left.
Joan wiped her eyes. "It's good to have a laugh now and again, isn't it? However, Martin is right. You will have to let him come with you when you are shopping. You need help now, to carry those bags."
"Joan, I'm not an invalid, you know." Louisa was annoyed to think she came across as weak and feeble.
"I know that dear, but you are coming across as stubborn. You are five months pregnant and if you want that to be 9 months, you are going to have to recognise that for the time being, you need a little help. That's my grandchild you are carrying!" Joan could be just as fierce as Martin when it came to protecting family.
"Yes, Auntie Joan," said an abashed Louisa.
The ride into Wadebridge was uneventful and soon the car was parked, leaving them both free to enjoy the afternoon.
They made their way to the shop specialising in all things "baby/toddler" accoutrements and began browsing around. The mobiles attracted Louisa's attention and she dragged Martin across to see them. "Aren't they pretty, Martin?"
Martin looked at them, but couldn't really say he cared one way or the other. "Hm" was as much as she got out of him. He looked across the room and saw the cots, so started to go across to them. Louisa lagged behind, still fascinated by the different mobiles. Eventually she caught up with him and she too was soon engaged in the different types of cot, available.
Being safety-conscious, Martin eyed them all critically, looking for potential hazards. Louisa on the other hand was inclined to put attractiveness at the top of her priorities. They discussed the relative merits of each one until even Louisa could see that the best one was the traditional high-sided cot, with a let-down side. It provided security for when the baby began to roll about, and the bars were close enough together such that it would be impossible for the baby to get its head stuck. There were painted motifs on the rigid end panels and the cot was long enough so that the baby would be able to grow quite tall before it would transition to a bigger bed.
Moving on, they looked at the mattresses for the cot. Louisa wanted something which would be easily cleaned if there was a mess on it. Something she was fairly sure would happen eventually. Several plastic covered foam mattresses took their eye. Some had prints of animals or toys on them, to make them look more attractive. Martin was more interested in their anti-bacterial and fire-proof properties. They each had firm ideas about what they wanted, and luckily, those ideas were not incompatible with each other's.
They looked at chairs, for when the baby was being fed, chests of drawers for its clothes and nappies. Changing mats and, at Louisa's insistence, a toy/book cupboard.
Finally, they moved on to bedding. Here the choices were again, extensive. Louisa murmured quietly to herself as she picked up various packs of sheets and pillow cases. Martin was more involved in watching her delight as she picked through the offerings.
She glanced up at him and saw that his attention wasn't on the bedclothes, but on her. A big smile lit her face and he almost gasped as a shaft of joy went through him like a lance. "Have you seen all you want to see, Martin?"
"Yes, for the time being. We can get their catalogues, and we can look on the internet for different ideas. Are you happy to leave now?"
She nodded, and hand in hand they left the shop. "Where to now, then? She asked him.
"Would you like to have a drink, and a sit down?" he enquired solicitously.
"What a good idea. I wonder how it is, that standing about always seems more tiring than walking around?" she speculated.
Martin was about to begin a sentence with "Studies have shown…" when he thought better of it and just agreed with her. They found a café and went to the back of the room to a more secluded table. Ordering a pot of tea, they sat back to discuss what they'd seen.
Louisa was in favour of some of the decorated bedding, but Martin preferred solid colours. They both liked the paler shades of wood for the drawers and cupboards. When it came to the chair, Martin wanted to look in furniture shops to see if there were more comfortable versions available. He couldn't see himself sat in such a low one, as those on display. Louisa saw the sense in this and quickly agreed with him.
Their drinks arrived and Martin poured out the tea from the pot. Turning their attention to the rest of the room they saw it was mainly filled with couples such as themselves. Very few children were in evidence.
They resumed talking and were just finishing their drinks when there was a commotion at a table near the door. They saw a florid-faced, portly man stand and clutch at his heart before slumping to the floor. "His companion began to call to him, "Barry, Barry what's wrong? Barry?" She went round the table and dropped to her knees, trying to rouse the man.
The waiters rushed across to lend a hand with him but they weren't strong enough to do much more than straighten him out. "Call an ambulance!" one of them called out.
Martin didn't wait for anything else and strode across the floor towards the man. "I'm a doctor, what seems to be the trouble here?" The woman looked up at him from her position next to Barry. "He just collapsed. He clutched at his chest and then fainted. Please help him."
Martin felt for a pulse and could feel a very faint one. The man's colour had paled significantly and his breathing was laboured. Martin glanced up to see Louisa hovering near him. He took his keys out of his pocket and gave them to her. "Can you go to the car, and get my bag?" She nodded and set off immediately. "Slowly," he called after her, mindful of the fact she was pregnant.
He felt sure that Louisa would be back before the ambulance arrived. He asked the waiter, "Have you called for an ambulance?"
The man said "Yes, they should be here in about 20 minutes, they said."
Martin wasn't sure the man had twenty minutes left. He hoped that Louisa could get his bag here swiftly. Continuing to monitor the man's pulse Martin asked his partner whether there had been any earlier signs of heart trouble.
"Not that he told me, Doc. He said occasionally he was a bit breathless, but only after we'd been walking quickly, or he'd been doing some gardening." She spoke quietly and then looked up anxiously, "He will be alright, won't he?"
Martin tried to reassure her that once the ambulance had taken Barry to hospital, he would receive the best possible care.
The café doors were pushed open and Louisa came in carrying his bag. He noticed she was breathing hard and urged her to take a seat. "You," he said pointing to a waiter, "get my wife a drink of water." Turning his attention back to the man's partner he asked if Barry was on any medication?
She shook her head and said "No."
At that a low groan came from the now semi-conscious Barry.
"Barry, can you hear me? It's Doctor Ellingham. Can you open your eyes, Barry?"
Martin could feel the pulse getting stronger and asked for help sitting him upright. He got some strong aspirin out of his bag and told the man to chew the tablet.
Barry looked blearily at him and Martin was forced to repeat the instruction before pushing the tablet in his mouth.
Barry grimaced at the sour taste and almost spit it back out again. Martin told him to keep chewing. "It will thin your blood and help you breathe properly," he explained to the man.
"Do what he says Barry, please!" The woman was almost in tears as she watched Barry struggling.
The ambulance arrived and the paramedics were swiftly informed of the patient's condition, and what Martin had done already.
"Right you are, Doc. We'll take it from here." They managed to get the man onto a stretcher and took him and his partner off to hospital.
Martin quickly turned his attention back to Louisa. "How are you feeling?" he asked. "Any dizziness, pain or nausea?" She shook her head and said "No, I drove the car here and we should go and get it before we get a ticket."
Martin nodded and then helped her to her feet. A smattering of applause broke out from the remaining customers who had witnessed the dramas.
He picked up his bag and together they went to the car. Luckily, no traffic warden was in sight, and there wasn't a ticket on the car!
Martin asked her if she wanted to go home, or eat out? "Home, please Martin."
Once back in the surgery he made her sit on the couch while he made another drink. Then he sat with her as she relaxed. Soon she was asleep, nestled into his side, as he held her close.
After about half-an-hour she began to wake up. She looked about her and then realised they were back home. "Guess I needed that," she said.
He kissed the top of her head and then made sure she could sit upright, before letting go of her. "Thank you for bringing my bag so quickly. I'm sure the aspirin I gave him will have had a good beneficial effect on him."
"I'll make some tea. Do you just want a light meal?" he enquired. She nodded and he set to.
"Seems like we got our dose of medical emergency today, Martin. I mustn't grumble, though because our last few outings have been trouble free!" She smiled at him as she said this.
"I'm sorry our day was interrupted, Louisa. I'd planned on going into St Kew for our evening meal. I enjoyed the last one we had there."
Getting up she crossed the lounge to give him a hug. "Never mind, there are other things we can do instead."
He looked puzzled and then smiled. "Indeed, we can!"