Chapter 134
As usual, Martin was first up and swiftly got himself ready. Louisa was fast asleep, still. He decided to go down and make breakfast before waking her.
He pottered about making boiled eggs with soldiers and then went to wake her. "Good morning, Louisa. Breakfast is ready. Come on, stir yourself."
She smiled up at him. "Those are lovely words. I'll come down before it gets cold. Won't be long."
"Hm." He went back down to eat his, and true to her word she was downstairs quickly.
"Are you expecting a lot of patients, today?"
"Just the usual, malingerers, hangovers and trivialities," he grumbled.
"You know, if you smiled at them a bit, they might brighten up as well?"
"Pah." Was his trenchant view. "No such luck."
She shrugged her shoulders. "Well I hope you are proved wrong about today." She smiled at him and thanked him for breakfast before retreating upstairs for her shower.
He sighed with appreciation as he watched her ascend the stairs. Pulling himself together he sorted out the washing up and went to the consulting room.
Louisa came out of the shower and dried her hair. She decided upon a summery dress, which didn't cling too much to her now rounded, figure. She applied a small amount of make-up and slipped her shoes on. Picking up her handbag she went down to say goodbye to Martin. This was accomplished with a light kiss and a promise to take care at school.
As she approached the gate, she could hear excited shouts and then saw various children running around after a football, or stood close to the fence chattering about their week-end activities.
She walked down to the staffroom and was accosted by Trisha. "Hi Louisa. Had a good week-end?"
"We did. We invited Auntie Joan for lunch on Sunday. So we had to shop on Saturday. It was very pleasant to go around the town and browse before getting our purchases. What about you?"
"It was our turn to go to his parents, this time. I must say they seem to be warming to me. I thought they were a bit distant at first. Wasn't sure if they were ready to see their little boy in a relationship!" she laughed.
Pippa came in and more greetings were exchanged. Inevitably the bell went for classes to start and they dispersed to their classrooms.
"Good morning class," Louisa smiled as she greeted them.
"Goood morning, Mrs Ellingham" chorused the class in reply.
She took the register and sent it along to the office with Tony Andrews.
When he returned, she announced that they would begin with the 7x tables. This was met with a small groan, but they proved that they were learning by faultlessly reciting the whole without any prompting from her. "Well done. Please take your maths books out and we'll begin revising some multiplications." The children were soon concentrating on the lesson and the morning seemed to rush by.
Louisa was somewhat surprised by the lunchtime bell but soon had the children marshalled up to go to the canteen. Once they were there, she left them to it and hastened home herself.
She was out of breath when she came into the kitchen, and quickly dumped her bags on the floor. The couch beckoned invitingly, so she sat down and put her head back to relax before making their lunch. After a quarter of an hour she got to her feet and decided that cheese salad sandwiches would be acceptable.
Martin's quiet, "Hello," was swiftly followed by his hug.
"Hmm, hello to you too. I've made some sandwiches. Do you want tea, or water with them?"
"Tea, please." He decided.
"My morning went by so quickly, today. I was surprised when the bell went. What about you? Anything exciting?"
"If anything it was even more tedious than I anticipated this morning," he muttered.
"Well I know that you are being appreciated more and more by the village. Don't lose heart, I'm sure something of a mystery will present itself." She smiled encouragingly at him.
After they'd eaten Martin wanted to know what she was going to do for the rest of the day?
"First, I'm going for my nap. I felt quite tired when I got home."
Automatically his hand went to her forehead to check her temperature. "I'm fine, Martin. Just a bit tired, is all."
"Don't do too much afterwards. You need to make sure you're getting enough relaxation. In fact, why don't you pack your hospital bag so it's ready when you need it?"
"Yes, that's a good suggestion. I'll make a list as I do it to see that I've got everything. How long do you think I'll be in hospital?"
"Well, I'd say at least one day after you've had Junior. Possibly another few if they decide to keep you in." he shrugged. "I can't be any more definite, than that."
"OK, I'll pack for three days and take it from there."
"Right, I'm going back to work. See you later." He leaned down and kissed her before going off under the stairs.
I could get very used to this, she thought. The dishes were soon dealt with and she made her way upstairs for her nap.
She woke up and used the bathroom before getting her case out. Opening her dresser drawer she took out the undergarments she would need, including several nursing bras, panties and then she took out of her wardrobe the blouses which would unbutton far enough to allow easy access for feeding and also her maternity trousers. She hoped she wouldn't need the latter for too long after Junior's arrival. Several nightdresses and her dressing gown completed the garment selection. Toiletries and sanitary wear were put in as well. She looked at her list and felt sure the case was as ready as it needed to be. Before closing up she scanned through the list and realised she'd forgotten slippers! This was swiftly rectified. She glanced at the list again, knowing that she'd missed something, but didn't immediately discern what it was. She checked through it once more and suddenly the shocking evidence was clear to her. She'd not put any baby clothes in! She added things for Junior to the bottom of her list and then went to retrieve them from the nursery. At last, she felt happy that she'd now thought of everything. The case was placed beside the bedroom door, so that it could be collected at a moment's notice. (Not close enough though, so that Martin could fall over it!) She smiled when she thought of the number of times, he'd almost fallen over children/dogs/tree roots. Not to mention being unable to dodge low ceilings….
She went downstairs and set about making their afternoon drink. She'd already started to drink hers when he came through from the surgery. Smiling up at him she waved a hand over the teapot. "Want some?"
"Er, yes, please."
She poured out a cup for him and then topped her own cup, up. "I've done what you suggested and have packed my small case. I was somewhat disconcerted to find that I'd omitted any baby things! I've put them in now, though. It's behind the bedroom door, but not in your way going in or out of the bedroom."
"Ah. Good thinking!"
"Have you heard from Chris, yet?"
"No, but perhaps he's not got around to reading that report. It did say on mine that he'd been copied in on it."
"Yes, he must get lots of mail, given his position." Louisa agreed with Martin's thoughts on the matter. "Did you write a response to the report?"
"Yes, I did it, or rather I finished it off, yesterday afternoon."
"Well, I'd better get back to it." Martin rose from the table and quickly kissed her cheek before he left.
Louisa smiled, and then went across to the settee before picking up her magazine. She read through it – not very challenging articles – and finally turned to the puzzle pages.
Martin saw his patients, many of whom could have treated themselves with a painkiller, or refrained from drinking too much the night before. "Next patient," he called.
In walked Chris Parsons. Behind him, Pauline said "You've seen all those with appointments, Doc. Could I have the remaining files, and if it's OK may I go?"
Martin nodded to her before handing over the requisite files.
Waving to a seat Martin asked Chris "What's brought you all the way out here, Chris?"
Blasé, Chris answered, "Thought I'd see how you were coping with the practice and the upcoming happy event!"
"In terms of the baby, I'd say we were doing fine. Dr Lewis said about two weeks to go. We'll be seeing him again this Friday, in fact."
"And the practice?" Chris knew he was living dangerously, as Martin's temper was not something most people relished seeing.
"Aside from answering inane questions from wet-behind-the ears, young jackanapes, who wouldn't know their way out of a wet paper-bag, fine. I take it you've read Matthews' report?"
"Yes. He praised the practice, actually. Was very complimentary, in fact."
"But he left an insidious thought or two at the end of it. Wondering if I'd deceived the PCT by not mentioning my haemophobia. Suggesting I take a social interactions course!"
"Luckily, I knew all about it then when I asked you for the interview. I'm sorry I'd not got around to telling Louisa about your blood issue before the meeting. I guess she's forgiven you, eh mate?" Chris laughed at his own joke.
Martin gave a half-sneer. "Did you want to ask me about Matthews' interview?"
"Seriously Marty, I know it seems as if the man is trying to get you out of a job, but really, he's trying to justify his own job, by finding stuff like this. You'll have noted he gave the practice a glowing report, due to your running of it?"
"Chris, I resent the implication that somehow, I got this job by lying to the PCT. You know the truth of the matter and I'd like for Matthews to be told in no uncertain terms what it is!"
Chris looked at his friend and could see that the allegation really did trouble him. "Yes, I'll let him know about that. Now what about how you dealt with the patients he sat in on?"
"The first one, who was inquiring about his son is a persistent malingerer, who wouldn't, until recently, listen to any advice I gave him. However I will say this for him, he loves his son and has looked after him by himself after his wife died when his son was very young. In fact it was the son who asked me not to tell his father, because it would make the father over-compensate for the lack of iron by force-feeding him liver for breakfast, lunch and tea!"
Chris looked at Martin, "How old is the boy?"
Martin snorted, "He's 30 years old, Chris!"
Chris looked taken aback at this information. "30?" he asked incredulously.
"Hm. That fact didn't seem to register with Matthews, at all. In fact he was also less than impressed that I didn't have magazines, or tea and biscuits ready to dole out to patients waiting to see me. Given that you keep A&E stocked with uncomfortable chairs, I'd say you were on my side about moving people along as soon as possible?"
"I see what you mean. What about the other patient? The one with the bleeding hand?"
"Another of my regular moaners, except that in this case he had a genuine reason to be here. He'd been peeling potatoes and his knife slipped, gashing his hand quite badly. I numbed the site and put a couple of stitches in. I did go a bit green about the gills, but it did NOT interfere with my treatment of him."
"OK Mart. Leave it with me and I'll see that the correct information is included."
"Ah, I've written a response to the report, if you want it?" queried Martin with a raised eyebrow.
"Not at this stage, and hopefully never. Keep it on file, though just in case there is a need for it later. However, I'm fairly sure I can clear this up, straight away."
"Chris, does Matthews know I was Chief of Vascular Surgery at St Thomas'? You don't get to be that high without having a fairly robust manner!"
"We'll keep that piece of information in reserve. He might get quite a kick out of taking you down, otherwise."
Martin could see the sense in that bit of advice and agreed with Chris' reasoning.
"Are you coming through for a cup of tea and meet with Louisa?"
"Sorry Mart, I've got to call into Delabole before going home, so I haven't the time on this occasion. Keep us informed about the baby, won't you?"
"Yes." They shook hands and Chris left.
Martin was quite relieved at the outcome of the meeting and went on back to the kitchen in a more positive frame of mind.