Chapter 82

Martin's alarm went off. He'd grown accustomed to sleeping a little later whilst on holiday, so he was glad he'd remembered to set it. He looked across at Louisa, but she was still snoring quietly. He decided to leave her and went to shower. When he came back into the bedroom, she was still asleep. He looked at her clock and saw she still had another fifteen minutes. He picked up the clothes he'd readied last night and went across to the nursery to dress.

He was just putting his espresso machine on when Louisa joined him. "Morning Martin. Gosh, I had a good night's sleep. Thanks to you, I think." A smile accompanied this statement.

"Hm, yes. What are you having for breakfast this morning? I can do you some eggs, if you want?"

"I'll just have cereal, I think. Plus some tea, thank you."

They sat down and ate together. "Have you got a full day of patients? What time will you be finished, do you think?"

"Late, today. Probably won't finish until 5 o'clock at the earliest."

Louisa pulled a face. "Well I suppose those people who put off going to Wadebridge will all be in today, claiming major illnesses or injury."

"Probably. I'm going to leave it for a week or so and then I'll arrange with Chris to shut the surgery on a Saturday morning about once per month. I'm going to start as I mean to go on, Louisa."

She nodded in complete agreement. "I think you're right to begin this now. Once Junior arrives, we'll need time as a family for weekend outings and things."

They finished their breakfast and Louisa went back upstairs to dress and ready herself for the day.

Pauline arrived at 8:20 and her nasal twang could be heard "Morning Doc. How was the holiday, then?"

"Fine thank you. Would you ready the patient notes and put them on my desk please?" Martin didn't want to dwell on idle chit-chat and was keen to review the first case before Malcolm arrived.

"What are the Scilly Islands like, then?" she persisted.

"They're an archipelago of islands. Most uninhabited. We enjoyed the time we spent there. Now can I have the patient notes, I want to be up to date before they arrive."

She clip-clopped to the filing cabinet and pulled out the first five sets of patient notes before dropping them on his desk. "I'll go and make my coffee then, seeing as how you don't wanna tell me about your hols." She disappeared off to the kitchen, leaving Martin to roll his eyes at her retreating back.

Promptly at 8:30 Malcolm Raynor came into the waiting room, just as Martin was calling out "First patient!"

"That's you Malcolm. You're first in today." Pauline told him with a toss of her hair which made the bracelets on her arms jingle noisily.

He went across to the surgery door and was told to come in. "Have a seat, Mr Raynor. What can I do for you today?"

"It's my ears Doc. The left one is aching and I can hear a loud ringing in both of 'em. I've 'ad to take paracetamol for the pain."

"I'll just have a look in your ears." Martin picked up his otoscope and proceeded to look in Malcolm's ears. "When did the pain start?"

"Wednesday last week, Doc. It came on slowly but by Friday night it were really painful like. Had to take the painkillers to ease the pain, but now even those aren't strong enough." Malcolm complained.

"What about the ringing in your ears.? When did that start?"

"I've had that for 6 months or more. Just thought it was one of them things you got when you're old. Me Dad had it when he was alive." Malcolm explained.

"Yes, well I can see redness and a build-up of wax in your left ear canal, so I think you have some otitis externa."

"Is it bad Doc? Can you fix it?"

"Well, given that you also have some psoriasis which can lead to skin which is easily damaged I'll prescribe you a short course of antibiotics, as I think you've got a bacterial infection. Take the tablets as directed and take the full course. Do you understand?"

Malcolm nodded. It wasn't often he managed to get any sort of a tablet out of Martin.

"What painkiller did you use?"

"Paracetamol, Doc."

"Keep taking them as per the instructions, then. Stop when you no longer have the pain. I won't prescribe them for you, because it is cheaper for you to buy them over-the-counter, rather than on a prescription."

Malcolm's eyes widened at this. "Really, Doc?"

"Yes, for a lot of things that's the case. Now, was there anything else, Mr Raynor?"

"Er, no thanks Doc." He stood up and left, clutching the prescription in his hand.

"Next patient!" shouted Martin.

And so it went on throughout the day. Fairly routine illnesses, children getting colds or scraped knees. Nothing to really challenge him or his diagnostic skills. He got his coffee at 11 o'clock and then soldiered on until lunchtime. Louisa had opted to stay at school as she was fairly sure she was on yard-duty anyway.

At school the other teachers were keen to hear about her experiences on Scilly. She showed her photos and explained where they'd stayed and where their seafaring had taken them. Pippa especially was envious of the holiday.

"I'd love to go there. Some of those beaches look really exotic. One day, I'll get there, you see if I don't!"

Louisa said that she had some cards and a couple of posters to bring in and those she would put up in her classroom. When she went to begin the lessons, her children were all excited as it was the first day back. One or two of the boys were scuffling so in her stern voice she asked for them all to sit down quietly!

She took the register, asking Mary to take it along to the secretary's office. After that it was a case of doing some writing. "What did you do on your break? Did you go to the seaside, or visit a relative? Did you go to the pictures or to a zoo? I'd like you to write down what you did."

The class got out their books and with some chattering, set to work. Louisa walked slowly around, answering questions and giving hints to those who looked a bit stumped.

Eventually it was lunchtime and as Louisa had thought, she was on duty, along with Tricia Soames. They stood in the lee of the building watching as the children played games or raced about, letting off steam.

"What did you do, then Tricia?"

"Visited my parents in Redruth, for a few days over Easter. Came back and decorated my bedroom, which hasn't been done in years!"

"Did you get any new furniture for it?" asked Louisa.

"Not really, but I did paint the cabinets a different colour, so they seem new!" A merry smile lit up her face.

"Yeah, I know what you mean," said Louisa who well remembered her years in London when she did her degree. Money had been tight then.

In no time at all, the bell went indicating the resumption of lessons. The children trooped inside and the afternoon session began.

By 3:30pm Louisa was wishing she was at home so she lost no time in clearing her desk, finding her coat and setting out to go to the shops. At the fish sellers she got some cod, in the supermarket she picked up some salad ingredients, milk and cheese. Various other items found their way into her bag and she was glad to set off for home.

Her arrival at the surgery coincided with a visit from Joan. "Hi there! Are you coming in for a cuppa?" she asked Martin's Aunt.

"Sorry Louisa. I'm just dropping this spare veg off and then I've got to get home. I've arranged for Ted, the electrician, to come and put a new power point in for me. Perhaps another day?"

"Oh. OK then. Thanks for the veg!" Louisa smiled as Joan put the tray on the table and bustled out of the back door.

She put her shopping and the vegetables away, then made her drink and sat down to enjoy a few minutes peace. In a very short time she was fast asleep. She woke with a start, not knowing what had awakened her. She looked at the clock and saw she'd been asleep for nearly an hour.

She set about making the tea before Martin came in. Cod mornay was easy to prepare and was considered by Martin to be optimally nutritious, so she had no fears on that score.

She was just setting the table when he came in. "Louisa," he greeted her in his velvety voice. She smiled and hurried over to greet him properly.

"Tea's nearly ready, if you want to go and wash up before it." She told him.

When he came back, she was putting their plates on the table. She collected the condiments and placed them within easy reach.

"How was your day, Martin?"

"Not as bad as I'd expected, but not exciting. Just the usual coughs and sniffles. A trained monkey could have done my job today," he complained.

Louisa nodded sagely. She'd heard this many times before. She knew he missed the excitement of the operating theatre. The challenge of a tricky surgical procedure or even just lecturing his students. Very often the staid duties of a country GP didn't challenge him, enough.

"My day was routine as well. Nothing of much import had happened whilst we've been away. Just same old, same old."

"I expect it will pick up as we get closer to summer. The influx of tourists usually stirs up some excitement," he mused. "Are we doing anything tonight?"

"Got nothing planned. I don't have any marking, so I think I'll read my book, after I've done the ironing. What about you?"

"I'm going to look at that clock I was repairing before we went away. Is that all right with you?

"Sure, I'll bring a cuppa in around 8 o'clock."

"That would be fine, er good," he smiled. "I'll wash up and then go."

Louisa finished her meal, watched TV for the weather forecast and then went to get the ironing. Once she'd finished that she settled down with her book.

On Tuesday afternoon, her phone rang and when she saw it was Joan, she quickly answered it. "Hi Joan. What can I do for you?"

"That parcel you were expecting has arrived. Would you like me to pick you up from school and I can deliver it then?"

"Fantastic. Thanks Joan. I'll be ready just after 3:30. Is that OK?" Louisa was beaming at the thought of being able to lighten the tedium of Martin's day.

"See you then." Joan rang off just as abruptly as Martin did.

Louisa was left staring bemusedly at her phone.

Promptly at 3:30 Joan was sat waiting outside the school as Louisa hastened towards the Landrover. She opened the door and climbed in. "Hi Joan. Thank you for doing this."

"No problem," said Joan. "Will Martin be in his surgery?"

"I expect so, unless he's been called out. He was a bit glum last night because it had been a routine day with nothing really out of the ordinary for him."

Joan nodded. "He never used to like being idle when he was a boy. Always had to be busy, or asking endless questions!" She smiled at the memories.

In no time at all they were back at the surgery and sneaking in the kitchen door. There being no sign of Martin, Louisa took the parcel from Joan and put it out of sight. "I'll give it to him after tea," she said. Would you like a drink? I'm just going to make myself one"

They sat down to drink and Louisa told her about the two medical emergencies which had arisen on the Scilly's.

"There's always something, isn't there?" Joan sighed.

"For the second one we were actually in the theatre watching the Fisherman's Friend band. Martin missed the second half of the concert."

Joan raised a querying eyebrow. "I somehow couldn't see Martin agreeing to attend a show like that? Not usually his sort of music."

"No, it was a complete surprise when he mentioned it to me, too. When I agreed we went early and he got the tickets. I saw Geoffrey Holmes at the interval! Do you remember him? I was at school with him."

"Him who's related to Lucy Holmes? Nephew or something?"

"Yeah. He told me his marriage had broken down and he was now a gardener on Tresco. Needless to say Martin wasn't exactly thrilled to talk to him. Anyway, he didn't linger long. It was just after that when Martin got the call to go and help out at the hospital."

Joan nodded. A touch of jealousy there, she thought, but didn't say it to Louisa. Looking at her watch, Joan announced she was leaving and was soon on her way.

Louisa smiled to herself and looked forward to giving her present to Martin. She saw that she wouldn't have time for a nap, and decided to make the tea. When he came in from the surgery, he was pleasantly surprised to see the tea on the table. "I'd have done that," he exclaimed.

"It was no bother, Martin. Joan picked me up from school and I had a pleasant chat with her and a cup of tea. She sends her love."

"We only saw her on Sunday! You'd think I'd not seen her in months!" Martin did not really understand the everyday communications of affection, unless it was to Louisa.

"Never mind Martin, tea's ready."

"Er, yes. I'll just go and wash up."

They finished their meal and Martin washed up

"Martin, could you help me with a parcel which arrived today?"

"Yes, of course. Where is it? Do you want it upstairs?"

"No, here on the table will do. It's behind the couch."

He looked quizzically at her, but went and retrieved the package. He placed it on the table and looked expectantly at her. Waiting for her to unwrap it.

"It's actually for you, so you can open it." Louisa told him.

"For me? I haven't ordered anything."

"Just open it Martin," she told him.

Getting the scissors, he set to and got the paper off. He opened the box and lifted out the tissue paper. A smile lit his face when he saw the contents. "It's the clock we were looking at in St Mary's! When did you get it?"

"While you were at the hospital on Wednesday. You seemed very interested in it, so I thought it would be a good way for me to show how much I enjoyed our time together. Also I thought that after you'd fixed it, it would look good in your study."

He lifted the dark-cased clock out and set it on the table. He was struggling to speak but he managed a strangled "Thank you. This is very lovely, Louisa. It's an ebonised French clock."

"Yes, that's what the pawnbroker said. He told me that he'd had it a long time and nobody else had bothered to look at it. He said it was from the 1890's but he thought it would need an expert horologist to repair it. I didn't tell him I had one hand!" She laughed at the memory.

"Oh, Louisa. This is lovely. As I recall it was quite expensive, so thank you, very much. I didn't see it arrive today?"

"Well, I managed to bargain the price down and got him to send it via post to Joan's. You know we only had a small luggage allowance, so I knew we wouldn't be able to manage to bring it home ourselves."

Martin opened the back of the timepiece and looked inside. He couldn't see immediately what was wrong, but very much anticipated finding out. Looking up at her, he got to his feet and kissed her thoroughly. "This is a a huge treat, for me." His eyes watered at this unexpected surprise.

She hugged him, "Well I'm resigned to losing you for a while, so go and find out what's wrong with it! I'll see you later." He put the clock back in the box and went off happily to his surgery.