Chapter 72

They talked quietly between themselves on various subjects such as what they would do when Junior joined them. How they would ensure they got time to themselves as well as looking after the baby. Martin declared that his patients would have to learn that, as a family man, he needed time to be with just his family.

Louisa nodded. "It won't be as easy as saying you need the time. I'm sure one or two will still expect you to come at the drop of a hat."

"Well they'll be in for a shock then. I've spoken to Chris and he's agreed I can throw a few of them off my list to get my message across!"

Louisa looked shocked. "You wouldn't do that, would you?"

"If that's what it takes, then yes, I would." Martin set his jaw and nodded firmly.

"Let's hope it doesn't come to that then." Her hands wandered further down his body and the discussion ended in favour of much more pleasant things to do.

Eventually it became time for dinner and Martin got up, leaving a sleeping Louisa behind. He showered quickly and dressed before heading to the kitchen to make the main meal.

When he went back into the bedroom she was still sleeping. "Louisa. Louisa – time to get up, Beauty." He shook her lightly and she opened her eyes. He quickly bent and kissed her before telling her she had just enough time for a quick shower before dinner.

"Hmm. All right Martin. Thank you."

Monkfish was the main course coupled with a side salad and some bread. They only had water to drink with the meal. This time it was Martin who filled the dishwasher and prepared a pot of tea. "Put the TV on Louisa and see if you can find a weather forecast."

He returned with the tea in time to see the forecast begin. "Weather for tomorrow will be sunny with the wind speed dropping to around 5 mph. The clouds have cleared and no more rain expected until next week." The lady forecaster looked very happy as she disseminated the information. The temperatures would remain in the high teens ̊C.

"That looks better. Do you fancy going for a boat ride around the islands, tomorrow? We can get an idea of how long it takes and enjoy the views of each one." Martin seemed keen to get off St Mary's for a while. He picked up the local advertising paper which had been delivered the previous day and looked for the tide times. They showed that the boat trip could start at 10:30a.m. so passengers were requested to be there by 10:00a.m.

Louisa was keen to see some of the other islands, even if it was only from a distance. She said she would be happy to do that. "Are we going to Tresco on Monday, then?"

"I don't see why not. The weather looks as though it will still be warm and sunny, so we should enjoy a walk around the gardens and perhaps even the Abbey. I'll book a table at On the Quay for Monday night so that we don't have to cook when we come back." He got his phone out and did just that. The time would be a little later than he would have liked, but for one night it wouldn't matter.

"Er Louisa, I want to call in at the hospital tomorrow to check those X-rays for myself and to talk in person to Cotterell. I don't think it will take too long, so I'll book a taxi to take us there and get him to wait before taking us to the quayside."

Louisa sighed. "Must you?"

"I promise I'll be as quick as I can," he affirmed.

Following a restful night the Ellingham's breakfasted early and were ready for the taxi when it arrived. Martin asked for the driver to go to the hospital first. The taxi pulled up to the Casualty doors and after dropping Martin off, went to park up.

Martin, dressed casually in his navy-blue outfit, still projected a confident air of authority as he strode towards reception. "Is Dr. Cotterell on duty today?" At the receptionist's nod he asked if it would be possible to speak to him.

"Who shall I say wants him?" enquired the nurse on duty.

"Dr Ellingham." Martin stood back and waited for the young Dr to appear. He didn't have to wait long, as Cotterell came along the corridor towards Martin. The young doctor appeared to be nervous as he approached.

"What can I do for you, Dr Ellingham?"

"I make it a policy to check up on my patients, Cotterell, after they've had their initial treatment. Is there a room we could go to where there's a computer so that I can see the X-rays for myself?"

"Er, yes. Come this way." Cotterell lead the way to an office where he started the computer and input his password. He called up the requisite file and stood back to allow Martin to look at the X-rays.

Martin viewed the pictures, noting that three different perspectives had been captured. As each one came up, he checked carefully for any signs of further breaks. Happily there were none. He stood up and addressed himself to the junior Dr. "It is always best to do any checks that might help you form a diagnosis, Cotterell. In this case we picked up a fracture which, if left, might have caused even more damage to the child's hand. Scaphoid fractures are, as in this case, awkward to detect. X-rays provide a much clearer understanding of what damage there may be. Do you understand?"

Cotterell nodded. "I'm sorry I didn't process your request immediately. I realise now that, as you said, it could have been a costly mistake. I've not come across this particular type of injury before and had assumed it was a straightforward sprain when I couldn't feel any obvious break."

Martin listened impassively and could detect that the Casualty Officer was sincere in his remorse. "When you passed your exams to be a Dr it was not the end of your learning. A good doctor carries on learning by actual practice and by trying to stay as current in his knowledge as possible. There will be further tests as to your abilities in future, so you should remember this episode and make sure you carry out any simple checks to make sure you've arrived at the correct diagnosis. All right?"

Cotterell nodded.

"What are the two main complications of misdiagnosing this type of fracture, Cotterell?"

"Nonunion where the bone fails to heal properly, and Avascular Necrosis where the fracture prevents blood getting to the rest of the bone, causing it to die." He answered correctly.

"Good. I see you've done some research since I last spoke to you. As I say, in this job you are always learning, and don't assume that everybody is the same. Plenty of my surgical patients didn't have their organs in the place they were expected to be. Sometimes I was presented with cases which were non-typical and required swift thinking on the spot."

He went on to ask, "What sort of cast did you request?"

Cotterell told him "As the bones were still in position I asked for a full cast from mid-arm to the top of the palm, including a full wrap of the thumb."

"Yes, that is what I would have done. Well, I don't need to detain you further. I know you are busy, thanks for your time." Martin rose and began to leave the room, as he did so a consultant came in.

"Ellingham! I heard you were in. What brings you down to our neck of the woods?" Max Laverick greeted him.

"Just checking up on one of my patients, Max. Young Cotterell has filled me in on all the details."

"We should have a drink some time, Ellingham. It's been years since I've seen you!"

"I'm just here on holiday, and I still don't drink, Max. I have to go, I've a taxi waiting." With that he left the room leaving the other two doctors somewhat bemused at his rapid exit.

Martin strode out of the hospital and was swiftly picked up by the waiting taxi.

"Everything all right, Martin," Louisa wanted to know.

"Yes," was his terse reply, with a nod to the driver.

Louisa understood and looked out of the window until they reached the quayside and left the taxi.

They strolled along to the kiosk, checking which boat was the one taking people around the Isles. There was one going directly to Tresco, or another going to Bryher and Samson. Finally they found one doing a tour of the Eastern Isles. Martin paid for their tickets and also booked places on the Osprey for Monday, when they would visit Tresco.

Louisa looked up at him and asked again about the hospital visit.

"The young doctor had enough about him to have looked up scaphoid fractures and could answer a few simple questions, so I just reminded him that passing his exams to become a doctor wasn't the end of his learning. I advised him to keep up with current thinking and expect the unexpected! When I viewed the X-rays, the radiologist had done three perspectives, but only the one fracture showed up. Hm."

Louisa knew she'd get no further details and was pleasantly surprised to get those few. "I expect that once he found out exactly who you are, he would be a bit apprehensive about meeting you. You know you do have an authoritative air about you, don't you?"

Martin's eyes widened. "Louisa, I've been a head of department and am well used to directing junior staff, even senior ones if it comes to that!"

She took his hand and smiled up at him, "I still love you, though."

"Witch," was all he would say.

They continued walking along the quay until they reached the boats tied up alongside. On the wall behind them a map of the islands and the routes around them provided an overall view of where they were going. Climbing aboard the boat they were each given a life-jacket and asked to put them on. Louisa struggled to get hers on, so Martin made sure it was correctly positioned and fastened. He quickly donned his and they took their seats along the deck.

As other people stepped on board, Louisa smiled at them. One or two said "Good morning," as they took their seats. She turned and smiled up at Martin.

"Looks like a good day, weatherwise. Wind's not very strong and the sea doesn't look too choppy."

"We're still in the shelter of the Quay, don't forget. Wait until we're out in the open before you commit yourself," he smiled at her.

Eventually everyone was on board and securely seated around the boat. The crewman cast adrift the holding lines and gently the boat moved away from the harbour side. Soon they were chugging out to sea. As Martin had predicted, once out of the security of the harbour, the swell became more noticeable and the wind a little stronger.

Looking ahead Louisa could see a number of islands. She was used to being in the open air, but not used to being on the sea in such a small craft. As the boat chugged on, she began to relax a little more and was looking in the water when she noticed a pod of dolphins on the port side of the boat. "Dolphins, Martin!" and pointed to them. Naturally, all heads turned to get a glimpse of these marine mammals. The pod seemed intent on shadowing the boat and leapt out of the water, apparently in fun. Louisa laughed to see them, and even Martin seemed to enjoy their display.

"We see them in Portwenn, as well, Louisa," he commented.

"Yes, but that is usually at such a distance you can just to say make them out. Here they are relatively so much closer!"

Truth be told, Martin also enjoyed seeing them, as usually when they were in Portwenn, he was in his surgery.

Cruising around the Eastern islands they took in as much as they could in relation to the wildlife and the views. Eventually they came to St Martin's Isle.