May you stay forever young
Forever young, forever young
May you stay forever young.
I had to shake Louisa awake when the alarm went off at 7 am. She had been raving all of yesterday about the fresh sea air and how this was one of the things she missed about Cornwall. I suppose that had something to do with the quality of her sleep because she slept all through the night.
"Please, it's too early. Just give me a little more time," she mumbled before turning away from me and curling up with her pillow.
Today was a big day for Louisa and I knew she didn't want to miss a minute of it. I went downstairs, finished unpacking the kitchen supplies and logged on to my computer to catch up on work. At 8 o'clock, I looked in on her to see if she was awake.
She was still under the cover and called out to me sleepily. "There you are. Come and stay with me a little."
"Another time. It's already 8 and we want to make an early start."
She jumped up screaming. "8 o'clock! Why didn't you wake me?. Now we're going to be late."
"Calm down. You have enough time to get dressed, eat and be there when we had planned. I have set you a lavender bath. Have a soak for at least 10 minutes, it will help you to relax."
She climbed out of bed and on her way to the bathroom, hugged me. "You're such a dear. I can't imagine life without you."
"Neither can I." And I mean it. Being with Louisa has given me a new lease on life, something to look forward to every day. I love my world of surgery, but it is no longer an obsession, something to fill my days. Now, my family and my life with her informs my every move. Louisa and James are my reason for being.
We kept up a running conversation while she was in the bath and I was tidying the bedroom.
"Jenny and Chris are going to meet us in the village."
"Fine."
"Do you want to visit Al while we're there? You haven't seen the farm in years."
That was true. I should go and see what used to be Joan's place and for which Al and Pauline had been good stewards.
"If we have the time, we could do that."
"Is there anything special you want to do today besides seeing to the Exhibition?"
"There are a few people I want to look in on."
"Perhaps we could split up, then." I was not going to be dragged around meeting her friends.
She came back in the bedroom, wrapped in her robe and a towel around her freshly washed hair and nudged me playfully with her elbow.
"You don't look too pleased."
"Louisa, you go meet your friends. I'm sure Chris and I will find something that we want to do."
"Some things about you haven't changed, I see. You're still not a people person."
"Mmmm." And I'm never going to be one, not like her and James, although James is only half a people person. His temperament is getting to be a lot like mine. This is why I'm glad he has Rosie in his life because like Louisa, she is a people person. They balance out each other.
"Don't look so glum. I love you just as you are."
On the way over to the village, Louisa was strangely silent.
"Everything alright?"
"Yes." She sounded unsure.
I knew she was on edge so I said nothing. Once we found parking, and before we got out of the car, I reached for her hand. It was clammy.
"Louisa," I said quietly, "We can find somewhere to sit and have tea or something before we start walking around."
She was biting her lips, a sign that she was nervous.
"Is there something bothering you, something I should know about?"
"No, no ... Yes. If you want the truth, I'm a little nervous. What if something goes wrong? " She looked worriedly at me for assurance.
"I doubt that. And if it does, we will face it together. There shouldn't be a problem with the Exhibition. The crew knows what they are doing and the young people who will be manning the exhibits are well trained. Don't worry, Science Is Cool has been around for some time."
That seemed to soothe her and as we walked towards the village hall, she reached for my hand. Posters announcing the Science Is Cool exhibition were everywhere. People were already gathering and I noticed that a few conversations came to a halt as we walked past. Louisa was all smiles. Still, I was curious to see how they treated her. A few people, including a couple of fishermen, looked at me strangely and nodded in my direction. I returned their greeting and was slightly amused at their shocked expression.
One stepped forward and extended his hand to me. "Hello Doc. Never thought I would see you around these parts again."
When I looked at him puzzled, Louisa said, "Martin, it's Ross. It's been a long time, but you should remember him."
"No, I don't." How she expected me to remember someone I hadn't seen in over 20 years was a mystery to me.
He was more helpful. "Doc, I'm the patient who had the thing with my breast. Same as Mrs. ..."
Now I remembered. He hadn't changed all that much, despite having aged. He still looked fit, although the sun and sea had bleached his hair blonde, and I suspected that the scaly patches around his neck could be early signs of melanoma.
An hour after our arrival, huge covered trucks lumbered into the village with their cargo of flat-packed material. The villagers and curious tourists greeted their arrival with loud cheers. The plan was to stage the exhibition at the village hall for a week, after which it would be taken to other venues around the county. Some of the exhibits would have to be set up outside under tents because there wasn't enough space in the hall.
Michael Dunwich, someone I couldn't recall meeting, was standing by to help. Louisa had asked him to be the point person because he was knowledgeable about the sciences and had taught at Portwenn Primary on and off. He nodded stiffly in my direction. Louisa greeted him with one of her wide smiles and his face lit up. She had this effect on people. While we were walking around, she had told me that Michael had befriended James and had taught him about the sciences and gotten him interested in art. Michael, was joined by Janet, the headmistress and a few of her staff. They quickly took charge, directing the crew as to where to put what for the night.
Set up would be done on Saturday, and the opening reception was on Sunday at noon. I had reservations about a Sunday opening, as I recalled that the villagers were strong churchgoers. Louisa reminded me that Saturday was a busy market day when the fishermen tried to unload their catch before going out again on Monday. People would be more inclined to come right after church and make a family afternoon of it. When what could be stored in the hall was unpacked, we met Chris and Jenny for a late lunch at what Louisa described as a very nice pub.
Seeing the question on my face when we walked in, Louisa told me about the genesis of the pub.
"It has been here for about five years. The owners, a young artist couple from London, bought their house and set up a studio in their backyard. When the house next door became available, they bought it and turned it into a pub cum retail shop for their ceramic and small furniture pieces."
"It's lovely," even I had to admit.
Jenny was familiar with the pub. "I send people here a lot. There's nothing to match it in Truro. People like it because it has a nice, quirky, London vibe. The owners are lovely, talent people who have adopted Cornwall as their home."
After we had finished our meal, Chris and I decided to visit the farm. Jenny said she would come with us, leaving Louisa to visit friends.
Someone I need to speak to is upstairs. I'm sure that neither Martin or Chris saw her as they were sitting facing the window, and Jenny doesn't know her. Upstairs is reserved for large groups or overflow from downstairs and it is too early for that.
I spot her sitting alone in a far, dark corner. "What are you doing here," I hiss.
Her face jerks up from her laptop. "Oh, hello Mrs. Ellingham."
"What are you doing here?" I hate being rude, but I don't feel the need to be pleasant. Not after all I have suffered because of her.
"I'm here for the Exhibition." When I raise my eyebrow, she clarifies, "I came down early."
If Martin ever gets wind of this, he'll kill me, but I must protect my family.
"If you ever, ever, come near me, Martin or our son, I will call the police immediately."
I look closer. Her eye doesn't meet mine, they look unfocused and she speaks with a slur. Probably been drinking, I think, looking at the glass beside her of what appears to be vodka. Why is she drinking so early?
"Listen, this is a free country, but if you don't want me here, I can leave. I have been going to The Centre long before you came to London."
This is a gift and I grab it. "Yes, leave and now." I can't believe that she has capitulated so quickly. Something is strange about her. Since the little I know about her has always been odd, I don't give it much thought.
Sally, the owner, must have heard our raised voices and comes up to investigate.
"Is everything alright, Louisa?"
"No, it's not. I need this woman to leave the village which she said she would but she's taking her time about it."
Sally is a friend and sizes up the situation. When she pulls out her phone from her pocket, the woman makes to get up.
"Let me call the constable. He will be here in a jiffy. Nobody wants trouble on what is going to be a fabulous weekend for the village."
The woman packs up her things, hands Sally some bills to pay for her drink and leaves.
"I'll talk to you later," I tell Sally as I walk outside to make sure she has left.
I'll tell Martin about this when we get back to London. No point in bringing it up now, he might say I'm hallucinating. I spot Pippa in the distance and walk towards her. I'm sure she will cheer me up over a nice glass of wine. Martin can read my every mood and I don't want him asking questions. My dear, dear Martin means well, but she has to be stopped once and for all.
Al and Pauline gave us the tour, well, more Al. Pauline was chatting away to Jenny all the time. I know Joan would be pleased. The farm was thriving and the B&B was booked out for the next month. Before we left, I excused myself and walked around a bit. So many memories. I was glad Joan had been a part of James's life. I'm sure she told him stories about my summers with her and that he made his own memories here. Once again, I knew for sure that buying the cottage was a good decision. If James ever had children, they would be able to make their own memories here.
Louisa and Pippa were having what they swore was their first and last glass of wine, when Chris and Jenny dropped me off at the pub. I didn't believe a word. Their giggle was a dead giveaway. I have strong views about grown women acting like schoolgirls, but I kept it to myself.
Pippa, as usual, could not resist getting in a word. "Hello Doc, I see you didn't forget us. Louisa tells me that you have a cottage in Truro."
"Yes."
"So we will be seeing more of you?"
I didn't know that our trips down would involve the village, so I said, "Maybe."
"That's good enough for me. Well, Louisa, Doc, see you on Sunday."
We were making our way towards the car, when Louisa asked me to walk with her to the school. She wanted to show me around and felt we should greet the rest of the staff.
I hesitated, not sure what their reaction to me would be. The short walk over was uneventful although I was conscious of pointed stares from some the villagers and of curtains being hastily drawn as we walked past.
Portwenn Primary hadn't changed much, which was unbelievable. I was impressed with their Technology Room and made a note to myself to see which elements of the exhibits could be left with the school to complement what they had. No point in taking everything back to London. The school population looked a lot less than I remembered. Louisa explained that many families had left the village in search of better economic opportunities elsewhere.
A few teachers came up and introduced themselves. One teacher, Laura, said she had attended the school, after which her family had moved to Wales. "My parents moved back, which is why I'm here. My grandmother sends her regards. She says you're still the best doctor she has ever had and she's happy you and Louisa got married."
When I looked at her blankly, she burst out laughing. "Oh, I forgot my manners. My grandmother's name is Mary Bailey. Do you remember her?"
"Mary Bailey?"
"She came to your surgery because she had experienced bloating and joint pains for a very long time. She had gone to many doctor, including Dr. Sims, and none could figure out what it was. You diagnosed it as Celiac Disease, the minute she described her symptoms."
"I remember her. Celiac Disease. Please give your grandmother my regards."
Louisa joined us in time to hear the last part of our conversation. "You remember Mary? That's a miracle. You were never good at names."
"Took me a minute or so, but after I heard her diagnosis ... " I stopped when I saw the twinkle in her eyes and caught on that she was teasing me.
"Let's go home." I took hold of her hand, said goodbye to Janet and headed towards the car.
"Mr. Ellingham, Mr. Ellingham." When I looked back, I saw Janet running after us. I motioned for Louisa to continue to the car and waited for her.
She was almost out of breath. "I'm so sorry, especially after all you and Louisa have done to get us this wonderful exhibition. We're the envy of all of Cornwall, the first to have a big London exhibition. Business is good, all the hotels and B&Bs are booked solid and yet …"
"And yet what?" I couldn't figure where the conversation was going and I didn't want to leave Louisa alone for too long.
"And yet ... people still talk ill of you and Louisa. Most, if not all, have never met you. Just village gossip, really. They said horrible things about Nathan and Louisa because they thought he was too much of a catch for her, especially after you left. James got a lot of it too. Nathan and Louisa tried to protect him but it was too much. I was the person who encouraged Louisa to leave her beloved teaching. The ill-will was too much for her and I saw where it was beginning to affect James. "
I was stunned. I hadn't noticed anything in our interactions all day that suggested the ill-will Janet was telling me about. Then I remembered. Whenever the subject of teaching came up, Louisa ended the conversation. Then there was the Third Time's the Charm incident James had shared with me. So ... her own village had forced her out of the classroom and she had never said a word to me. Shame on them.
"It's alright Janet. Gossip doesn't bother us, especially when there is no basis for it. Louisa wanted the Exhibition because she cares about her village. When she was growing up here, she was the beneficiary of a great deal of kindness. That's what she holds on to. It's so nice of you to be concerned, though. This is all news to me."
Janet was visibly relieved. "Thank you so much Mr. Ellingham. She had a rough time here. "
"Call me, Martin."
"Yes, thank you Martin. See you tomorrow."
"By the way, please tell Ross that I would like him to have the rough skin patches on his neck checked by his doctor." I wasn't a GP, but I had to say something.
We said goodbye and I broke into a trot to catch up with Louisa.
"What was that all about?" she asked curiously.
"Nothing really." She seemed satisfied with that and sank into the seat, relief all over her face.
"Glad that is over. I thought the day would never end. What a day!"
As we drove out, I looked back at the trucks lined up on the Platt. "Do you think they will be safe?"
"Come on Martin, what would anybody do to them? We're still one of the few relatively unspoilt spots in Great Britain."
"I suppose so." Looking at the trucks and remembering what it had taken for us to be here, setting up for an exhibition, I felt responsible for all going well.
Even after we got home, I still had an uneasy feeling about the safety of the Exhibition. I was never given to these kinds of feelings, which made it all the more strange. Louisa scoffed at my anxiety and in her own way, managed to quiet my fears. We sat outside for a little enjoying the remarkably warm day before going inside to prepare dinner.
Louisa and I were dozing off on the couch when my phone rang.
"Mart, it's Chris. Trouble. I need to talk to you privately." I looked at the clock. It was 10:05 pm, way past my bedtime.
"No, no. Now is fine," but I did walk into the kitchen ostensibly to get a glass of water.
"All the truck tires were slashed and many of the exhibits spray painted or otherwise damaged."
"What? Slow down Chris. What are you talking about? Why are you telling me this? Have you contacted the police?"
"Yes, yes," he answered testily. "The constable, a good sensible chap, called me after one of the crew went back to check on something, saw what had happened and went to the station. The constable knows you're my friend and he didn't want to come by and alarm you and Louisa."
"Has Janet been notified?"
"Yes. She's here at the hospital with me."
By this time Louisa had joined me in the kitchen and was trying to follow the conversation.
"What the hell are you talking about?" I bellowed at him. "What has this got to do with the hospital? Was somebody attacked?"
"No need to be rude," he shouted back at me. "Look, just come and I'll explain everything."
"Why is Janet at the hospital? Please start from the beginning. What you're saying makes no sense."
"Margaret Kent is at the centre of all of this." He would say no more, just urged me to meet him at the hospital and hung up.
"Margaret Kent? Dr. Kent?"
I didn't mean to, but I snapped at her. "Yes. One and the same. Didn't you hear me?"
She changed before my eyes and got all icy. "Please don't talk to me like that, I'm not an idiot. Seems she can't stop following you around."
Why was Louisa being impossible and making matters worse. "Why are you doing this Louisa? For the last time, it's you I love. I haven't seen the woman since she invaded our home."
All the good times we had shared since being here seemed to have evaporated at the mention of Margaret.
When she saw me picking up my keys, she followed me. "I'm coming with you."
"No you won't. You stay here. I'll not be long."
"Martin, you're not leaving me alone. If I can't go, you can't. What about your promise that if things went wrong, we would face it together?"
When I made that promise, I never imagined that we would be facing anything like this, if what Chris said was true. I still couldn't understand what had really happened.
I knew I was being abrupt and the hurt in her eyes made me feel guilty but this was not the time to pander to her fears.
Then the screaming match began.
"I'm your wife Martin, please don't shut me out."
"Rubbish, I'm just thinking about your safety."
"There's no danger, we're just going to the hospital. You're treating me like a child." I knew I wasn't going to win this one, but I still tried. I didn't want her to be a part of the ugliness that might erupt at the hospital.
"Oh, please Louisa, give me some credit."
"I will, if you deserve it. You're just being your usual conservative self. You're the man, the protector and I'm some female weakling. I'm not staying her alone, I'm coming and that's that."
She reached up and held me by the shoulder. "We have to go. Please, while we're here arguing, God knows what else might be happening."
She finally got her way, as she knew she would.
I wasn't pleased to hear the name Margaret Kent in Cornwall, not when Louisa and I were there, and by the time we arrived at the hospital I was in full rant mode.
I parked in the consultant's parking area as I used to when I was a GP. Then as now, most of the spots were empty. Chris greeted me at the entrance to the hospital by pointing out that I was in the wrong parking area.
"I don't care. Let them move me if they dare. My hospital parking sticker is clear for any idiot to see." I was in a fighting mood.
"That's for London, not Truro ..." He stopped when he saw my expression.
Most of the crowd which had been there earlier had left. Chris took Louisa and I to a room where the head of Psychiatry, Maureen Lowe, Janet and the police were waiting on us. With Louisa gripping my hand tightly, they began telling us what had happened until they were interrupted by a nurse.
"Sorry to interrupt. Dr. Kent is not here. We have searched ..."
"What do you mean she's not here? Are you telling me that between the police and the hospital, you could not prevent a patient from escaping?"
Chris tried to calm me. "Hold on Martin, nobody said she has escaped. She should still be here on premises."
At the news, Louisa moved closer to me and I could hear her mumbling, to which I paid no attention. This is exactly why she should have stayed back at the cottage. It was Chris who patted her back and tried to quell her fears.
"It's alright Louisa, she will be found. No need to worry. Right Martin?"
I wished Chris had not put me in this impossible situation. I had no assurance that she would be found so I said nothing until he nudged me. I looked at Louisa and my heart melted at the worry on her face. I squeezed her hand and she looked at me gratefully.
I gave Dr. Lowe full credit for her management skills when she took charge of the situation.
"No need to panic. She will be found because she can't go far. She's heavily sedated. Now, let me share what we know so far."
Margaret had been having a series of psychotic episodes which she had controlled with self-medication.
"What did you say ?" I shouted at the poor woman. I couldn't believe what I was hearing.
"Mr. Ellingham, I'm only telling you what I have learned from Margaret's case history, the initial interview I had with her, and what the law allows me to share. "
I couldn't help stating the obvious, I was in such shock. Poor Margaret. Self-medicating is against our Code of Ethics and simple common sense.
"How she came by those drugs is a matter for the Medical Board and the police. She couldn't have done this alone."
Louisa who hadn't said a word on the drive over or since we were here started to say "I know ... " and I stopped her. "Not now, Louisa."
Surprisingly, she didn't put up a fight, for which I was glad.
Dr. Lowe disclosed that after Margaret's marriage dissolved, she neglected to take her medications on their prescribed schedule. Yet, she was still able to function. Her supervisor was aware that something was wrong, but didn't know the extent of the problem. She allowed her to practice in controlled situations with supervision. When she had barged into my home, she was still functionally capable. She went in crisis after seeing Louisa and myself at the Genius Awards and after Viola lodged a report against her. She was sent on leave immediately until the hospital decided her fate.
Chris and I exchanged glances. Only he and I knew that Viola's efforts to help her were not possible because she was on leave from the hospital.
While on leave, Dr. Lowe said she checked herself into a treatment facility outside of London where she was still supposed to be. In the meantime, a recommendation for the revocation of her license had been approved.
She had checked herself out of the facility and driven to the village alone. Under the cover of darkness, she had savagely mutilated the exhibits and ripped the truck tires. After the alarm was raised, the police found her wandering around with bags of spray paint, knives and other instruments of destruction. She had gone berserk, was restrained, taken to the hospital and was under police guard in the psychiatric ward. Shortly before our arrival, she had been sedated, confessed and asked them to beg me to forgive her. She even sent her apology to Louisa and James.
I looked at Chris and saw the pain in his eyes. There was nothing I could do for Margaret. Nothing to which my skills could be put. When she had invaded my home, I knew something was amiss, but let it slip because saving my relationship with Louisa was more important. That slip had come back to haunt me, to hurt the person I held most dear. Chris, Viola and I had interpreted her behaviour as that of a woman scorned bent on revenge. In hindsight, it couldn't have been so. It was her husband who had scorned her, not me.
What should have been a romantic night with my wife had descended into a screaming match. And for what? For God's sake, we were on holiday, our first time away from home since our wedding.
Margaret's care was out of my hands, but I was determined to salvage the Exhibition for Louisa's sake and for the people of Cornwall.
When we got back to the car park and before I opened the door for Louisa, she drew me close and rested her head against me.
"Martin, I'm sorry, sorry for not telling you."
"Telling me what?"
"What I was trying to tell you when we were inside. I saw Dr. Kent today in the pub."
"What! Why didn't you tell me or call me?"
Then the story came out, including her reason for not telling me.
"I'm sorry for not giving you the respect and trust you deserve. I take full responsibility for all of this."
Louisa did not see it that way. "No, I should have said something. I had a bad feeling about her, myself."
Her next question had me concerned. I didn't realize how much the events of the day had affected her. "I'm worried. What if she finds us? Do you think she will harm us? Should we go back to London? What if she harms James?"
"There's nothing to fear. She's sedated, she can't get far."
It was she who suggested that we ask for help and immediately got on the phone with Jenny. In another hour or so, Chris, Jenny, Janet and Dave, the head of the crew, were at our home calling around for help. Marissa promised to leave London immediately with a few of her architect friends and whatever equipment she could round up. Janet got the overwhelming support of a group from the village, headed by Michael. Peter Cronk said he would be over in the morning, as did Roger and Maureen's twins. Al was already at the Platt and the hall organizing a clean-up crew. A couple of our friends said they would be down on the next train. We needed all the technical expertise we could get. The rest of the crew would be arriving on the 10 am train and James and Rosie would be in by noon.
As we were about to turn in at about 2 am, my phone rang. It was Dr. Lowe.
"Sorry to call so late, Martin. I thought you would want to know that we have found Margaret. She was trying to leave, stumbled in the garden when the sedative kicked in. She suffered a mild case of hypothermia, from which she will recover quickly."
It was only after we were in bed, that Louisa showed signs of strain. "Martin, please hold me," she mumbled as she cuddled up to me shivering. "I can't believe this has happened. I know I'm showing my age with all this blubbering."
"You're forever young to me, Louisa."
I'm not good around tears, especially Louisa's. All I could do was rub her back. I blamed myself for all of this and cried silently for her. She didn't deserve this.
"It's alright Louisa. Everything will be fine. Promise. I'll do whatever it takes to meet our opening deadline."
"It's not your fault. You have done all you could."
"Let's get some sleep Louisa. Things will look better in the morning."
Something unthinkable had happened to a member of my profession. A love affair had spiraled into something horribly wrong. An expensive exhibition which had been built with such hope and love, was not spared the wrath of a sick woman. Yet, there was such an unexpected outpouring of support from the village, the crew, friends and colleagues. I was amazed at how quickly Louisa had sprung into action, despite the emotional upheaval of the day. To think that I always thought of myself as the practical one. In a crisis, she had shown a side of herself that had won my admiration and enduring love.