Chapter 9 - Care

Louisa entered the house via the kitchen door, lifted James out of the buggy and put him gently on the floor. Then she started to range her and James' coat. She also put aside the folded buggy.

In the meantime, James took profit of the occasion and crawled on hands and knees through the kitchen, towards the surgery. He was quick as an eel nowadays, so before Louisa even noticed that he was gone, he was already nearly in the waiting room, heading for Morwenna's desk.

He used the desk to pull himself up to standing position and gave Morwenna a huge smile, when he succeeded. Since she had helped Ruth Ellingham with looking after the little boy when Louisa was in hospital after her brain operation, he was really fond of her. The affection was mutual, so Morwenna greeted him joyfully.

'Hi James, how are you? So you can stand up now! My big boy!'

She picked him up and kissed him on his cheeks and hugged him. Proud that he chose to come to see her.

Louisa had followed him to the waiting room, which was completely empty, except from Morwenna.

'Hello Morwenna, where's Martin? I noticed that his car wasn't in the parking lot...'.

'He was called out to an emergency Mrs. E. And a really bloody one as well too, I'm afraid.. I sent the waiting patients home and rescheduled their appointments, because I think the emergency will take most of the afternoon...

'Well done, Morwenna, what kind of emergency was it?'

'A motor accident near the moor. The driver skidded of the road. Must have been slippery due to the recent rains. Seems that the guy has nasty wounds, because he wasn't wearing a proper protective suit, only jeans. Poor doc, having to deal with all this blood...you will look after him when he comes back, won't you, mrs E.? He'll need it!'

'Of course I will, Morwenna, thank you for your concern', Louisa answered.

'He deserves it, always taking care of his patients. However gruffy he may act, in the end he always assures the apropriate medical assistance, no matter what he might think of the lack of personal hygiene, bad nutritional habits and so on...I wish I could help him to get rid if the bloody haemophobia!'

Louisa always knew that Martin's assistant had a weak spot in her heart for her employer, but until now, she hadn't expressed it so explicitly.

'Well Morwenna, he is going to do something about it himself. He has told you that we are going to the Netherlands, hasn't he? He is going to participate to a conference. One whole day will be devoted to haemophobia.'

'Right, good that he asked to come with you. He will need your support...', Morwenna said, 'what about James, is he coming with you?'

'Yes, afterwards we will stay in the Netherlands for a holiday. I just collected a lot of information on where to stay and so on. We've still lot to prepare...but tonight will be ruined I suppose, given the emergency. Martin will even feel physically weak..must have thrown up a couple of times if it really was a serious and bloody accident!'

'Give him something light to eat and distract him. Maybe talking about the journey would help him to get over it quickly?'

'Yes, I will do that. Thank you for the advice Morwenna, what would he do without you?' She gave the girl an encourageing smile.

'There aren't anymore patients waiting, so why didn't you go home?'

'I just wanted to be available, in case the Doc needed anything, ask for assistance, bring him medications or so. I'll just wait a bit, if you don't mind?'

'Let's have a cuppa then', Louisa said, returning to the kitchen. She put the kettle on. Morwenna followed with James, she played a bit with him and tickled him. His happy giggles filled the kitchen for a moment, but then the two women enjoyed their tea in peaceful silence.

About twenty minutes later Martin entered through the backdoor. Louisa stood up, gave him a short but firm kiss on his lips and then immediately poured him a glass of water. Without even uttering his usual protest on showing affection in public, Martin thankfully took the glass from her and drank it in one gulp.

He had a sad look on his face, that was white as a sheet. He knew that the villagers would start to spread confusing and non consistent rumours about the accident, so he decided to give a short debfriefing to his wife and his assistant. That has been a suggestion of Mr. Johnson - giving some objective, unpersonal details about a medical case, would calm down the speculations of the villagers, without risking non respect of Hippocrates' oath, from his side. On the other hand, it would reduce his own annoyance about these rumours..

'That was what one would call a near escape from death... The motor driver lost control over his engine and he ended head first on the tarmac. He wore only jeans and an old fashioned helmet, without proper chin protection, only a small leather strap! Not even properly buckled. He must have a couple of very effective guardian angels, since he didn't break his neck. I had to send him to the hospital with numerous abrasions all over his body, a broken arm and a so called trauma aequitus. That last injury is more common amongst horse riders'.

'Oh yes I know that one!', Morwenna said, it happens when the horse suddenly stops dead and when you fall because your body still has speed. Hitting the surface of the road, your lower lip can completely tear of from the inside, because it scrapes over the tarmac!'

'Yes that's it, Morwenna!'.

'How do you treat that, Doc?'

On this unexpected show of medical interest, Martin gave her a surprised look and then explained:

'Well, you cannot stitch it. You have to clean it very well and then tape the face from the outside for a couple of weeks to put the lip in place again during the time it heals...'

'You look very tired Martin, why don't you have shower and relax a bit, before dinner? I'll cook you some steamed fish with veggies', Louisa suggested.

'Hmm, yes.'

He looked down at his sweaty and dirty suit full of dried bloodstains

'Here we have another chance to enrich the dry cleaner's . Hopefully this suit is not completely ruined...'

It seemed the perfect moment for Morwenna to leave the Ellinghams alone and to let Louisa take care of her physically and emotionally exhausted husband.

'Take care, Doc, see you in the morning! Bye Louisa, bye bye James!', she said, carefully putting down the boy, who waved her goodbye.

'Bubye..', he uttered, then immediately headed towards is daddy. 'Dada..' He pulled himself up by holding firmly one of Martin's legs and produced one of his most charming smiles..

Martin got a lump in his throat. Although he felt tired and dirty and despite his usual sense of hygiene, he now couldn't refrain of lifting up his sweet son for a hug and kiss. What a blessing, coming home to your family!

To be continued - please keep sending your reviews, they are such a source of inspiration and so encourageing!