Chapter 71

Martin wanted to stride along quickly, but gave consideration to Louisa and shortened his stride. She looked up at him and could see that he was irritated by this last episode. "Martin, you've done a good deed today, so don't let it bother you. For every parent who is blasé there are a 100 more who take things very much to heart when it comes to their children. I'm sure you will be amongst the latter."

He slowed right down and squeezed her hand. "Yes. It just bothers me that people seem to take things so much for granted. Such as, they will always have a job, or their families will be OK. It doesn't always turn out like that, I'm afraid."

Louisa smiled at him, "Well, hopefully that constitutes the inevitable medical episode. What do you say?"

He put his arm around her to give her a hug. "Yes. That will be good. Hmm."

As they walked, he asked her if she was feeling well. Upon receiving a positive answer he told her about the restaurant which also did take-out meals. "Do you want to look at their menu and order something delicious, if we can find it?"

"That sounds like a good idea. Depending upon how long they'll be, perhaps I could go and have a shower first?"

It was a little after 5p.m. when they called their order in. They were promised delivery by 5:30p.m. "Right, you know where I'll be," said Louisa as she made her way to the bathroom.

Martin busied himself with setting out the cutlery and then making their drinks. He went and put the TV on, in time to see the news and then the weather forecast for the next day. The weather man was just pointing to the southwest of England and saying that a squall of rainy weather would blow in, mid-morning. He Included the Scilly Islands in his prediction. 'Oh what a shame,' thought Martin, 'we'll have to stay in.' A knowing smile lit his face.

Just then Louisa came back in, having enjoyed a warm shower. "What are you all smiles about, now?"

"I'm afraid I've just seen the weather forecast for tomorrow, and unfortunately it is going to be very blustery, with showers of rain. We'll have to stay in." He contrived to look downcast, but Louisa could see his inner glee.

"Well, Handsome, I suppose we'll have to rough it and contrive to find something to pass the time away, eh? I feel like a pyjama day is fast approaching."

He smiled wittingly and embraced her warmly. "My thoughts exactly. After we've eaten, I'll go to the supermarket for some fresh provisions and you can stay here relaxing. We've had a strenuous afternoon and you didn't get your nap."

"Sounds like a plan to me, Martin."

There was a knock on the door and their meal was delivered. Louisa thanked the delivery woman, and then went and put it on the table. They'd ordered a range of salads, sandwiches, cheeses and meats. They each took what they wanted and agreed that it was very good. Martin picked up the leftovers and put what he could in the fridge. The paper plates were quickly put in the rubbish bin.

"Do you want anything in particular for tomorrow, Louisa? I'll get some fish, obviously, but have you a preference for anything else?"

Louisa thought for a while. "I'd like some chicken breast, please Martin. Corn on the cob, and salad materials if we've not got enough?"

Martin nodded. He finished his drink and went to get his coat and a shopping bag. "Bye for now, I don't expect to be long." He bent down and kissed her cheek, before setting off for the shops.

He turned towards the town centre and strode purposefully along. As he neared the Co-op his phone went off. Sighing he pulled it out of his pocket, "Ellingham."

"This is Jonas Graves, Doctor Ellingham. I'm at the hospital with Martha and we've seen the Casualty doctor. He's saying that there is no need for an X-ray and a simple bandage is all that is required. What do I do?"

"For a start, don't let them give Martha anything to eat or drink. Is the doctor with you now? Right, put him on please." Martin heard Mr Graves ask the doctor to talk to Martin.

"This is David Cotterell, Casualty Officer. To whom am I speaking?"

"I'm Martin Ellingham, GP from Portwenn. I asked for an X-ray to be taken to ensure that Martha didn't have a broken wrist. Can you tell me why you've refused that request?"

"Well, Dr Ellingham, I've looked at the wrist and on inspection I don't think that it is broken. That and the fact that you have no privileges here on St Mary's means that I don't have to follow your requests." Martin could almost hear the "so there!"

"I see, Dr Cotterell. Can you tell me how long you've been a Casualty officer?"

"If you must know, I've been on here for eight months. Before that I was on the medical ward."

"My reason for asking is that I've been a GP for four years, and before that I was Chief of Vascular Surgery for 10 years at St Thomas' Hospital in London. I would strongly suggest, Dr Cotterell, that you humour me and have that wrist X-rayed!"

"Oh. I will do as you ask, but I still don't think that it's broken."

"But you can't be certain, can you? If it does turn out to be broken and the child suffers because of it, I'm sure the parents will lose no time in suing the hospital. It's certainly what I would do. Now, put Mr Graves back on, please."

The phone was given back to Mr Graves and he told Martin that Cotterell had gone away to make arrangements for the pictures to be taken.

Martin checked his watch and estimated how long it would take to have the X-rays done, viewed and the results reported back to Graves. "Give me a ring back and let me know the outcome, please Mr Graves." He closed his phone down and went into the shop.

He went around the aisles and picked up various items he needed. The fish counter had several different types of fish, including has favourite, monkfish. He requested a selection and then moved on to get some chicken breasts. Lastly, he went and looked at the bread section to see if their crusty bread was still fresh.

Going to the checkout he paid for his purchases, before retracing his steps back to Louisa.

When he went into the apartment he snarled "Bloody hospital juniors!"

Louisa looked askance at him. "What's upset you?"

"Graves rang and said the Casualty officer refused to do an X-ray of Molly's injured wrist! I was put in touch with him and told him he'd better do one or I would have no trouble assisting the Graves' lawsuit. The imbecile!"

"Oh, I see. I take it the doctor wasn't a Senior, then?"

"No. He'd only been in there for 8 months. I informed him of my seniority and he said he'd get the pictures taken. He obviously missed the bit in training which said that wrist injuries could become very serious if not treated correctly."

"Martin let's put the things away and you can try and calm down, a bit."

"Harrumph," was his response. He hated to see any sloppy treatment of his patients and this could amount to downright negligence. The fact that he'd been forced to insist on the X-rays was damning enough.

Two hours later his phone rang again and Mr Graves told him that he'd been correct in his assertion. "Martha's got a scaffold fracture Dr Ellingham. We're in the plaster room now and she's getting a cast put on her wrist."

"Have they given her any painkillers yet, Mr Graves?"

"Yes, they have. That Casualty Officer became very much more polite after he'd seen the X-rays. I don't know what you said, but it certainly made him much more attentive!"

Martin smiled to himself. "That's good. Mr Graves? The correct term is scaphoid, (S-c-a-p-h-o-i-d) fracture. Martha will be asked to attend a review in a few weeks' time. If the healing is going well, she'll eventually get the cast taken off and a short course of physiotherapy will help her get back to normal."

"Once again, Doctor Ellingham, thank you very much for your help. I don't know what I would have done if anything had happened to my daughter."

"Er, just doing my job Mr Graves. Goodbye." Martin switched his phone off.

Louisa came over and cuddled into him. "All right with the world now, then?"

Martin turned to look at her, "Yes, I was right. Molly does have a scaphoid fracture. Stupid fool in Casualty is still wet-behind-the-ears." Martin dismissed the errant Casualty Officer from his thoughts and turned his attention to the beautiful woman sat beside him. "Come here, Beauty, I'm in need of some treatment myself." He pulled her close and began to kiss her gently.

The next day Martin woke around his usual time and listened to the rain hammering against the windows as the wind blew hard. "Pyjama day it is then." He sighed contentedly and turned over to embrace his wife. The next time he awoke it was to see Louisa smiling down at him.

"Hello Prince. You've just been elected top of the most Handsome Prince in the Kingdom competition. Be prepared for lots of attention and you will be required to put forth your best efforts. In other words – get 'em off, you're picked!" She bent down and began to kiss him ardently.

Martin needed no second invitation and soon was carried away by her ministrations. Afterwards they cuddled up together listening to the rain on the windows. "Sounds like it is in for the day, Martin. I declare a pyjama day. No clothes, no phone calls, just you and me to do as we please. I'm going to the bathroom for a shower and then I'll go and make your breakfast. I don't want you fading for lack of sustenance!"

He smiled at her instructions. "No fear of that with you to inspire me," he replied. He propped himself up on the pillows and waited for her to come back. After a while she came back into the bedroom, naked, and went to collect her clean nightdress. Martin sighed at the sight of her smooth, pale skin. She left to go and make breakfast, tying her thin dressing-gown around her.

He followed her example and eventually went to the living room, dressed only in his pyjamas. He seated himself, somewhat self-consciously, at the table and waited for breakfast. Boiled eggs with soldiers were duly presented and he reached for her hand before she could move away. He raised the palm to his lips and kissed it gently. "Thank you, Beauty. I'll do my best to live up to expectations."

She brought his coffee and then her own breakfast to the table. "Well Martin. What are we going to do for the rest of the day?"

"I have one or two ideas," he said, twirling imaginary moustaches.

Louisa snorted, nearly managing to spray cereal all over the floor. "You've got a one-track mind!"

"But I thought that was the whole point of the day, ma cherie. It's definitely on my agenda."

She gazed at him, and loved him for entering into the spirit of things. "Great, I'll put the plates into the dishwasher and free up a bit more time. Eventually they went back to bed where loving endearments and actions took their place throughout the day.

In one interlude Martin turned over and looked at her, "You know, Louisa, this is the best day of my life. Even our wedding day doesn't surpass this. I feel such joy and passion when I'm with you. I know you love me and it fills my heart, almost to overflowing."

Louisa's eyes turned watery to hear such a declaration from this normally taciturn man. She inched across to him and began to run her fingers through his hair and down onto his shoulders. "Thank you. I had hoped you would begin to see just how much you mean to me. I want to make you understand just how special you are."