Chapter 11 – Action

James Mellinger and his wife Jen burst out of the consulting room. Mrs. Mellinger seemed to be taking their infertility in stride, although with her husband being so volatile and erratic I found it hard to conceive why she's want to conceive with the man. By the same token, why would Louisa want to make a baby with me?

Before I could do more than look up as he yelled at me in leaving, Pauline shouted. I could see she was holding the phone in her hand, likely gossiping away, I thought.

"Miss Glasson's got the job at the school!" came her cry.

Well that was one problem solved. At least Louisa could now feed herself.

As I reared back in my chair, I could see my Aunt Joan in the waiting area. She'd obviously just walked in. I went into the waiting area to drop off the patient note packet and I heard Joan being filled in by Pauline.

"Louisa Glasson's here in Portwenn! Came back yesterday, expectin'," I heard her say.

My Aunt Joan asked, "Expecting what?"

I waved a finger at Pauline surreptitiously to keep quiet, but it didn't work.

Pauline glanced at me but said, "A baby."

Dear sweet Joan turned with a confused face. "Martin?"

The fat was in the fire then. Joan followed me into the surgery and I immediately started to make apologies. "It's not my fault!"

Not that it mattered. Joan could see right thru the matter. That I was the father, this was my child, of course, there could be no one else, and straight away asked what I was going to do.

"She's got no family to speak of, her body is teeming with hormones, in three month's times she's going to have a baby on her own, I think she might be in a little trouble, don't you?"

My aunt is not medical doctor, but her vast experience of people and life in a small village would qualify her as a behavioral psychologist, counselor, and personal motivator from any school of higher learning.

I stammered and cleared the phlegm in my throat and answered the only way I could. "Yes!"

Joan stood calling, "Martin? Marty?" as I left her behind, telling Pauline I'd be out for an hour – hold the patients.

I knew what I had to do. If a child was choking on a bone in his throat, I'd apply the Heimlich Maneuver or if an adult suffered a coronary arrest I'd administer CPR and call 999. I have heard emergency workers describe launching themselves into a burning building or such without thinking to save a life. Such was my hurried walk; mindless, relentless, and hard charging action.

I put my pointy black shoes one after the other down Roscarrock Hill and then up Fore Street to Portwenn School. I decided to enter the school by the office door, perhaps being less noticeable by doing so.

I didn't see any one expressly looking at me as I scanned about before slinking down the back stairs to the school door and in. I had to speak to Louisa. There was nothing for it. If I'd been a weaker man I might have brought my aunt with me. But the adrenaline was rushing and my mind was made up. Louisa was in trouble and she needed me.

One or two nasty giggling children almost bowled me over as I stalked down the hall, not quite certain where Louisa would be. But she must be here. Making several wrong turns I caught a glimpse of her dark brown pony tail through a door and I propelled myself with abandon, thereby having to come to a screeching halt, hearing Mr. Strain the head teacher speaking to her in that very room.

He seemed to be partially questioning and hectoring her. Strange little man.

I thrust myself up against the wall outside the doorway, to remain unseen, needed to see Louisa alone. The plan backfired as the school secretary, named Molly, Lolly, Holly, or something came out dragging a small boy by the hand.

"Hello, Doctor Ellingham," she said, as she came through the door. She smiled sweetly, entirely ruining my plan, such as it was.

"Hello," I had to answer.

Strain and Louisa craned their necks as I was forced to expose myself. I was never very good at hide and seek anyway.