Chapter 92

His alarm woke him up and he groaned. It had taken him a while to get off to sleep. His thoughts had whirled around the fact that he'd nearly dismissed the phone call from the Curnow's. The relief he'd felt that he'd correctly diagnosed the problem didn't mitigate (in his mind) the near miss of not attending.

He got out of bed and went to the bathroom to get showered and shaved. Louisa was sat up in bed, looking delectable as usual. He felt a pang of regret that he couldn't do much about it. "Good morning."

"Hello, you seemed to be late in. I didn't hear you."

"I'm sorry my night visits disturb your sleep, Louisa. Having said that, I nearly missed a critical diagnosis. Just as well my brain brought up the correct solution. I had to get Penhale to escort us to the Truro hospital, on blue lights."

Louisa smiled, "I bet that tickled Joe pink!"

Martin moved to get his clean clothes and Louisa took her turn in the bathroom.

He was making her porridge when she arrived in the kitchen. She walked over to greet him properly, and then reminded him about the list for Mrs Tishell.

"Ah yes. Thanks for the reminder." He retrieved it from the study and gave it to her. "Just tell her to order anything which is not currently to hand. I'll pick everything up once she's got it all."

"I'll go after school, and also make it the last place I visit." Louisa shivered. "I don't know what gets into her at times. Hopefully, Clive will be back shortly and that will take her mind off things."

"Are you coming home for lunch?"

"Playground duty, today. I'll take a sandwich and an apple."

Martin took the opportunity to embrace her properly before he went to the surgery to look at the patient notes for the morning's influx of people.

Louisa quickly made her lunch and then went to titivate before leaving for the school.

The air was a bit cool and she was glad she wore her coat. May was a lovely month, but sometimes it looked warmer than it actually was.

"Mornin' Louisa! Have a nice weekend?" Pippa greeted her as she went into school.

"Not bad, how was your weekend?"

"Oh the boys had to go and see their grandparents, so we all went and had a good time. It was my parents' turn. They live in Exeter. It's a longish trip, but a very pleasant drive. For once our Dave had the time to come with us. As an extra treat, we stopped for a meal in a pub on the way back."

"Sounds like a good weekend then."

The bell went to indicate the start of the school day and Pippa and Louisa headed down the corridor to their classrooms.

Louisa handed out the marked books and listened to the chatter as pupils discovered how well (or otherwise) they'd done in their last assignment. She called the class to order and then commenced the lessons for the day.

Martin called "First patient," and in walked Mr and Mrs Young.

"We just called in to tell you that the oncology specialist has examined me, and you were right, I have a stage 1 cancer in my uterus. They are hopeful that a hysterectomy and then a course of chemotherapy will get rid of it, although they were at pains to point out it might recur, elsewhere." Mrs Young looked strained, but there was some relief as well.

"Thank you. I know these things are never easy to contemplate. At the risk of sounding trite, you must keep an eye on your future, with your children. Did the specialist give you a date for your operation?"

"Err, 6 weeks' time, Doc. They can't fit me in before then. They gave me tablets to be going on with."

"Are there any questions you want to ask me, or did you get enough information at the hospital?"

"I think I know what is involved, but can I come to you if I do want some more answers?" Mrs Young seemed anxious, which was understandable, in the circumstances.

"Yes, that would be fine. Just make an appointment and Pauline will fit you in. Was there anything else?"

The couple got to their feet and then Mr Young reached out to shake Martin's hand. "The specialist said you did a good job, getting us there so quickly. We'll not forget it."

Martin looked embarrassed at this praise and ushered them out, before calling for his next patient.

Mrs West came in along with her daughter, Fiona. They sat on the chairs in front of the desk and Mrs West said, "Show the Doc your hand, Fiona."

Fiona looked at her and then turned to Martin. She held out her left hand and Martin could see the blemishes on the back of one of her fingers.

"She's had these spots for a couple of months now, Doc. They're not going away. What are they?"

Martin put on some rubber gloves before asking Fiona to let him hold her hand. He took out a magnifying glass to examine the spots more closely. "They're warts. They are caused by the human papilloma virus or HPV. They are relatively harmless and should go away in 1 to 12 months. However you can use salicylic acid to get rid of them sooner."

"I'll give you a prescription for a slightly stronger solution of the acid. Follow the directions on the bottle, use the dispenser to paint over the wart. Let the solution dry, before doing any activities. Mrs Tishell should have this in stock."

He handed the sheet to Mrs West and they left to go to the chemists.

Martin's exciting day continued, apace. He was glad to take his break and stood out on the terrace, hoping for a glimpse of Louisa in the school playground. He spotted her close to another teacher, Trisha Soames, he thought. Louisa looked across to the surgery and waved to him. His chest swelled as the familiar gesture moved him again. He turned and went back to his desk, somewhat fortified by the experience.

After school had finished Louisa headed straight for Eric's to buy some fish. From there it was on to the supermarket for bread, milk and cheese. Finally she trudged to the chemist's shop. Louisa was beginning to dread going in there and being subjected to Sally's odd behaviour.

Glancing in through the window there was no-one in sight. She squared her shoulders and went in. The jangling cowbell announced her presence and she went over to the lipstick display to make a choice. From there it was onto the mouthwash and as she was picking up the bottle of her favourite, the chemist's clip-clopping shoes heralded her arrival.

When Sally saw Louisa, she stopped and looked in some surprise to see her. "Oh Louisa, I didn't know you were in Portwenn! What can I do for you?"

"I'd like these items please, and I've a list from Martin. He said he'd pick them all up together if you have to order some of them." She handed over the list.

Sally almost snatched the list and went to her stock cupboard. She found some of the medicines Returning into the shop she told Louisa that she would have to order several of the items, Martin had requested.

Louisa said that she had expected that. "Sally? Why did you think I wasn't in the village?"

Sally looked furtively about, as if to make sure no-one was listening. "I have something to tell you, Louisa. I'm afraid it is not good news."

Louisa looked intrigued, but couldn't imagine what it was Sally was going to tell her.

"I saw something on Friday afternoon which shocked me to the core! I was coming up the hill to show Dr Ellingham an article in the MHRA , and glancing up, I saw it!"

"Saw what, Sally? I don't understand."

"I hardly know how to tell you, Louisa. I never expected this sort of behaviour from Dr Ellingham!"

"You've got me flummoxed, Sally. I've no idea what you are talking about."

"Well, I saw Dr Ellingham in a passionate embrace with another woman! On the terrace, no less!"

Louisa could see the shock of the news on Sally's face. "What other woman? Martin just wouldn't do that!"

"That's what I thought too. The woman was a slim, well-dressed red-head. After they'd kissed, she got in her car and left. Dr Ellingham went into the surgery." Sally looked at Louisa to try and gauge what sort of reaction she would get from her.

"This was on Friday afternoon, Sally?"

"Yes, I expect you were still in school. I saw this embrace and I could scarcely believe my eyes. I was so shocked, I just turned around and came home."

Louisa saw a hint of a smirk cross Sally's face.

Louisa leaned forwards and said, almost in a whisper, "You haven't spoken to anyone else about this, have you?"

Sally's hand gravitated towards the top button on her cardigan. "No, Louisa. It took me all my courage to tell you, because it is just so horrible to contemplate."

"I'm glad about that. You see Friday was my day to go to my antenatal check-up. I saw the red-head leave, and all that happened was she briefly kissed Martin's cheek before she departed. Now, I don't know what your fevered brain has conjured up, but there was no passionate embrace! I sincerely hope that you have not spoken to anyone else about this Sally, because I would have no hesitation about informing Clive of your twisted imaginings about my husband! Am I making myself clear?" Louisa looked furiously at a shrinking Sally Tishell.

Sally gasped and nodded. "Yes."

"If I hear anybody else telling me about this, I will sue you for defamation of my husband's character. A charge which might be enough to get you struck off! Now you think about that! I expect Clive will be home within the next two weeks?"

Again Sally nodded. Picking up her purchases, Louisa stormed out of the shop, and up the hill to the surgery. "The nerve of that woman," Louisa raged.

Back in the shop, Sally wilted like a deflated balloon. As luck would have it none of her fellow gossips had been in the shop over the weekend and so she definitely had not said anything to anyone else. She shakily turned the sign around to closed, and went into the back of the shop to contemplate what Clive would think if Louisa carried out her threat to tell him.

She became overwrought at the idea of just how close she had come to absolutely ruining her life. She was shaking as she sobbed into her handkerchief.

Louisa went into the house and began putting her purchases away. She was still seething as she made herself a drink and sat down on the couch. "That bloody woman! She was trying to put a wedge between Martin and I!"

Eventually Louisa calmed down enough to make the tea. The routine of preparing and cooking the meal further soothed her. She turned over in her mind whether to tell Martin, or not. Remembering when he first came to the village, he had sacked his receptionist, Elaine. The village had given him the cold shoulder and almost forced him to go back to London. She didn't want him to go down that route again by alienating the batty chemist completely. She hoped that what she'd said to Sally would be enough to prevent the woman from interfering any more in their private lives.

In the end she decided that she would have to tell Martin as if she didn't, he would think she was siding with Sally. However she would emphasise just what counter-threats she had made and that it should be enough to quieten the crazy woman down, altogether.

Louisa sighed, "so much for a quiet night."