Chapter 60
If he noticed Louisa's wish for children, Martin gave no immediate sign. The talk changed from precise to more general things such as the happenings in the village, how prices were going up, whether the Government would ever get Brexit done, (a subject which was quickly dismissed as all of them were heartily sick of the seemingly endless discussion of it.) Louisa mentioned that the school wouldn't be able to afford new computers for next year and Chris, hearing the last bit of the conversation, suddenly perked up.
"What was that about computers, Louisa?"
"I was talking to the new headteacher and he told me that other things had to take priority in the budget for next year. I was very disappointed because ours are already ancient."
Chris was quiet for a moment. "I have an idea which might help, but I can't say anything more until I've spoken to some other people." He nodded to emphasise his words.
Louisa looked interestedly at him, but saw that like Martin, Chris could play his cards close to his chest if needs be.
She turned to Carol and raised her eyebrow in question.
"No use looking at me, Louisa. I haven't a clue, either!" Carol laughed.
Martin got up and removed the dishes from the table in preparation for them going into the dishwasher. Chris helped him, and then put the kettle on for a hot drink.
Soon they were all seated in the lounge area and Chris asked, "Will you be moving into a bigger house after the baby is born?
Martin looked startled at this thought. "I'm not sure," he said, "we haven't thought about it at all."
Louisa too was surprised as that thought hadn't occurred to her either. "We've decorated the spare room as a nursery and we'll make any alterations to it, as and when the need arises. I know the surgery is not an ideal place to raise a family, but for now I want to stay somewhere settled, because I've lived in quite a number of houses here in Portwenn."
Martin stayed quiet as he hadn't given any thought as to their placement in the surgery. He acknowledged it would be less than ideal, but had no idea as to what would be better.
"Carol, do you want to come and see the nursery?"
Laughing, Carol said, "I thought you'd never ask!"
They both giggled and went upstairs. Louisa opened the door and stepped in to the back of the room, so that Carol could see what they'd done. She admired the colour scheme and was impressed when Louisa told her about the curtains and cushions being considered 'accents' of colours.
"Good idea to have this lino-type flooring. If my children were anything to go by, you'll be mopping up plenty of fluids and other unmentionables as they grow. Much better on this stuff, as opposed to a plush carpet!"
Louisa was pleased to hear this remark of approval, from someone who had, been there, and done that. "Carol, with your first child, how did cope with a squalling baby and getting into a routine?"
"Feeling nervous, Louisa? We didn't have such a hard time, because David slept quite a lot and was a lot less noisy than I'd been led to believe. Edward, on the other hand, screamed the place down. Had he been my first, I'm not sure there would have been a second!"
Louisa fervently hoped that Junior would be quiet too. "Are there other snippets of good practise you could share with me?"
"Yes. Try not to worry too much, now. Enjoy yourselves as best you can, while you can. Life will never be the same once Junior arrives. Make sure you have time as a couple for after the birth, and remember, you have one of the finest medical minds in the country looking after you both!"
Louisa visibly brightened at these words of wisdom. "Thanks Carol. It's good to hear this sort of thing from people who have been through it. I must say that my friend Pippa at the school has been telling me it will be easy for me with just Junior. She had twin boys to contend with!"
Carol winced in sympathy, for the unknown Pippa.
They went back down and joined into the conversation. All in all Louisa liked both the Parsons, and was very grateful for the help they'd given to Martin, all those years ago.
"Any visiting plagues, I should know about, Chris?"
"No, touch wood, it seems to have been a quiet year in that respect. There aren't many medical directives to worry about, either." Chris was speaking about the various policies, handed down by Government, ostensibly to "help" the beleaguered GP fraternity, but which often did anything other than that.
Martin sighed with relief. He hated change for the sake of it.
The time went swiftly and before long Chris was ushering Carol into her coat ready to go and pick their sons up from the grandparents.
"Martin, Louisa – thank you very much for an enjoyable dinner and chat. Next time you can come to us."
Louisa beamed and said "We'd love to, thank you. We've enjoyed our day as well."
They saw the couple out to their car and then went back inside.
"That was lovely, Martin. I'm glad I had the chance to meet them." Louisa looked at her husband who was torn with the conflicting emotions of annoyance with his quiet Sunday routine being altered, and pride in his wife's efforts on behalf of his friends. In the end, pride won.
He held out his arms and enveloped her into a bear hug. "They enjoyed it as well, Louisa. Well done," he rumbled into her ear.
Louisa lifted up her face to be kissed and wasn't disappointed. "We've got some spare time, if you're thinking what I'm thinking?" She twinkled up at him and laughed when he caught on to what she was hinting at.
"I'll lock up and be there shortly."
The rest of the day was enjoyable to both parties. They weren't disturbed and could happily relax and exchange endearments in peace.
Monday morning arrived and with it some damp chilly weather. Louisa shivered as she walked to school and half-wished she'd taken up the idea of a small car. Walking into the building was like walking into a lush, warm hotel. The heating was on full blast and she made a mental note to say thank you to Mr Coley, the caretaker. Noisily, her children made their way into the class room and sat down to put their books on the tables. Louisa called the class to order and took the register.
In the surgery Martin noticed the cold atmosphere and went to put the heating up a notch. Pauline came in rubbing her hands and stamping her feet. "Ooh it's cold out there, Doc."
Martin looked at his scantily clad receptionist and remarked that she wouldn't find it so cold if she'd put on some warmer clothes! "First patient, please, Pauline."
"Jeremy Clarkson, go through please."
A tall man got up and walked into Martin's office.
"Yes, Mr Clarkson?"
"It's like this, Doc. I were washing my feet in the shower, an' I noticed a spot on the sole of my foot."
"Take your shoe and sock off, Mr Clarkson and let me see."
When Martin looked at the foot, he could see what appeared to be a large verruca. He put on his gloves and lifted the foot up for closer inspection. "It looks like a verruca, Mr Clarkson. Do you use the swimming baths, or a communal shower?"
Mr Clarkson said, "I play rugby for the Delabole team and there's communal showers there. Is that where I got this?"
"It's quite likely that you did. For treatment I suggest you go to Mrs Tishell's and buy some topical verruca treatment solution. Follow the directions on the label but come back and see me if it hasn't helped in a fortnight's time. You should buy some shower shoes and wear those when you use both the communal showers and your home shower. Verrucae are easily passed on from person to person, especially if the amenities are not thoroughly cleaned. Any questions?"
"Can't you give me a prescription, Doc?"
"I could, but the amount you'd have to pay for that is more than the cost of the salicylic acid, itself. You are therefore better off buying it yourself."
"Oh! Thanks Doc, I didn't realise that."
"Yes. Next patient!"
Joe Penhale walked in and sat down. "Mornin' Doc."
"What can I do for you, Penhale?"
Joe looked at Martin. "It's my check-up time, Doc."
"Really? Well, take your shirt off and get up on the couch."
Penhale complied and Martin got on with the routine medical examinations. He shone a torch in Penhale's eyes, noting that the pupils contracted normally. "Any narcolepsy episodes, or agoraphobic episodes, Penhale?"
"No Doc, I been taking those tablets you prescribed and haven't had any bother."
"Get dressed and come and sit down."
Martin retired behind his desk as Joe dressed again.
"Have you had any other medical problems, Penhale?"
"No. Can't say that I have, now you come to mention it." Joe was fairly sure he didn't have any more problems.
"Everything checks out as normal, Penhale. You are free to carry on as you are."
"Gee, thanks Doc. Good to know the Dynamic Duo are ready anytime!"
"Yes." Said Martin, wearily.
The rest of his day went by quietly and boringly routine. He was glad when the door closed behind Pauline.
He did the usual final chores and put his bag down near his desk. Just as he was leaving the office his phone rang. "Ellingham."
"Doc? This is Mrs Coates, my husband Ralph, is having some sort of attack! He's clutching his chest and has fallen on the floor! Please come Doc!"
Martin took directions, scooped his bag up and went through to the kitchen. Louisa was there making preparations for their evening meal. "Hello, I've been called out. Don't know what time I'll be back." He kissed her cheek as he went swiftly out of the door before she got much of a chance to say anything.
"Here's your hat, and what's your hurry?" Louisa muttered to herself.
The caller lived on Dolphin Street and it was quicker for Martin to walk there, rather than get the car out. The door was open when he got there and Mrs Coates was knelt on the floor next to her husband. "Oh Doc. Thank heavens you've come! He's been moaning and I've not been able to make sense of what he's saying!" She turned frightened eyes up at him.
"Let me examine him, please."
Mrs Coates got to her feet and watched anxiously as Martin began his checks. "Mr Coates, can you hear me? It's Doctor Ellingham. I'm going to check your heart. Keep still for me."
Martin listened to the heartbeats and could detect an abnormality. He checked the pupillary reflexes and they seemed normal. The man was panting and sweating. "Have you felt dizzy, or nauseous, Mr Coates?" The words were no sooner uttered when Coates turned to the side and vomited all over Martin's trousers.
"Yeuck," said Martin, quietly. He took his phone out of his pocket and called for an ambulance, stressing the urgency of the call. Rising to his feet he wiped his trousers off with a cloth supplied by Mrs Coates.
"Sorry about that Doc. What's wrong wi' him?"
Martin moved towards the kitchen and told her quietly that he suspected Mr Coates was having a heart attack. "I've given him some low-dosage aspirin to thin his blood. He needs to go to hospital for further checks to diagnose exactly what sort of attack it is. Has he been complaining about his chest for long?"
"Since yesterday afternoon, Doc. He said it was like he had a band around his chest and he was having some pain on his ribs."
"Which side, Mrs Coates?"
She thought for a few seconds and then held her own left ribs. "This side, Doc."
"I'll stay until the ambulance comes, and you should get ready to accompany him. Do you need to inform anybody else?"
Mrs Coates said she'd call Ralph's brother, Donald.
Martin stayed with his patient, trying to reassure him and keep him still. "The ambulance is on its way, Mr Coates. Just stay still until they arrive."
After twenty-five minutes the paramedics were there, lifting Coates onto a stretcher and into the back of the ambulance. "Are you coming Missus?"
She said yes and they helped her in as well. "My brother-in-law said he'd meet us there, Doc. Thank you." She looked worriedly at him as the doors were closed and soon the ambulance was driving away.
Martin walked back home. He saw Louisa in the kitchen eating her meal. She got up when he came in but he held up a warning hand up and said, "I've got to go to have a shower and a change of clothes." He wrinkled his nose in an expression of disgust. "I'll be about twenty minutes or so."
He went to re-stock his bag before heading up the stairs. A short while later he went back into the kitchen to greet Louisa properly.
After tea, Martin went to his surgery and began inventorying the cupboards, making notes of what was required to restock them. After finishing that he decided to ring the hospital to check on Mr Coates.
"A & E please," he said to the switchboard operator. He was put through and Martin asked after Ralph Coates.
After a minute the nurse came back with the news that unfortunately, Mr Coates hadn't survived the ambulance ride to the hospital.
"Thank you," muttered Martin quietly, and put the phone down. He sighed and knew that if the man had called sooner, there would have been a good chance of saving his life. Martin picked up his latest BMJ and began to read.
Louisa had some marking to do, but this was soon finished. Opening up her laptop she began to design a poster, advertising the first aid course which Martin was going to run.
Find out where the horror is in Portwenn.
Let Doc Martin be your guide to this murky mystery!
Will you escape the clutches of Fate?
Who will help you?
Be at the Village Hall, 29th March, at 2:30p.m.
You were warned!
Martin returned to the lounge and saw Louisa at her computer. "Tea, Louisa?"
"Yes please, Martin. I've been doing some preparatory work on those posters advertising your talk, next Sunday.
He made her tea and came across to sit with her. "Really?"
"You've got to pique their interest, Martin. Something like this will be more interesting than say 'Doc Martin teaches First Aid!' You said you'd outlined the talk. Have you done any more work on that?"
"Er, no. I've had other things on my mind, but I'll get to it later."
"Your talk is on Sunday, don't forget. That doesn't leave you with a great deal of time. Anyway, are you OK with these posters? I can get them printed at school and distributed around the village by Thursday."
"Hm. They're a little basic and unnecessarily ghoulish for my taste, but if you think it's right, go ahead."
"Thank you, Martin. I've ordered a couple of big posters to be put in the hall and got some leaflets to hand out as well. Joan, and her friend Annie, will be on hand to serve tea and biscuits after your talk." She smiled at him and saw the grimace which went across his face. She nudged him and said "Man up! You wanted to give the talk, and it's definitely in a good cause."
Martin frowned and thought to himself, why did I open my mouth? This is going to be a great big fuss about nothing.
He put his cup down and hugged her. "Thank you, for doing this. I'm not sure about it now, I've set things in motion, though. I don't know if it will sound the right tone or, put the villagers against me, again."
"Well, after you've gone through the UK statistics, on a light level, you can quote the statistics from here in the village. Purely as facts and figures, not names and addresses!"
"You can also say that anyone can do a more advanced First Aid course through the St John's ambulance service, or Lifeboat Association. If even a few people get to know how to put a bandage on, or how to put someone in the recovery position, that will certainly help? Having them really think about their own safety will be a step in the right direction, surely?"
"Yes, you're right, of course. Just me, being nervous again." Martin admitted to his collywobbles about facing the villagers.
They went to bed. Louisa was looking forward to Martin's talk, but he was dreading it. What if he messed up and alienated them? They seemed very touchy when it came to common sense, he'd found. He wished he'd never said anything.