Chapter 20
Bumpily Bump
And I love you so
The people ask me how
How I've lived till now
I tell them "I don't know"
I guess they understand
How lonely life has been
But life began again
The day you took my hand
"And I Love You So" by Don Mclean (or Elvis, Perry Como, and many others)
ME/LE
Just as I predicted the village spread the word of our pregnancy and the queue to see me was lined up early outside my door waiting for Morweena to open up the surgery on Monday morning, of course, first in line was Bert Large.
Not sure if it was good fortune for the villagers waiting at the surgery door or bad fortune for the locum that was sound asleep from a long night of drinking because I would end up in a very bad mood.
I had been called out in the very early morning to the farm next to Haven Farm by my aunt for an emergency. Auntie Joan was woken up by a phone call from Ed Thistle requesting she call Doc to come to his farm, his mother had tripped on the last few stairs and the locum wasn't picking up the surgery phone. I spent most of the early morning stabilizing the seventy-year-old woman while we waited for an ambulance. I called Morweena asking her to cancel my appointments for the early surgery and instead spread them out throughout the day.
Morweena made her way up Roscarrock Hill, surprised at the chain of people lined up at the surgery door. She walked around the long line to open the front door of the surgery as everyone pushed their way in behind her to be first in line in front of her desk. She leaned over to turn her computer on, and listen to the surgery answer machine. The first message she hears is the urgent message from Ed Thistle along with some appointment requests. She writes down the names to call later for appointments and erases the tape. She lays the notebook out with a pen for non-appointment patients to write their names on the desk as she makes her way into the kitchen to make her cup of tea. With her hot cup of tea now in hand, she walks back to her desk to make her announcement.
"If you are here without an appointment the locum Doc won't see you until his regular surgery hours at half nine. For those that have an appointment with the Doc please come to my desk as I call your name. Doc is on an emergency and won't be here till half twelve. Sarah Brindle," she says as she looks around the room waiting for people to leave.
"Morweena, I need to see the Doc, does he have any open appointments this afternoon?" Bert asks.
"Not a one, any empty slots he does have will be filled with the canceled appointments from this morning first. Bert, I need to take care of rescheduling appointments, come back at half nine and the lazy Tosser will see you."
Morweena works her way through the hour and a half appointments and the crowd has not budged an inch. Their loud conversations back and forth are too much for the locum's hangover. He blindly starts down the stairs and stubbles on the shoes that he left on the landing in his drunken state last evening, and tumbles down the rest of the way landing sprawled out at the bottom of the stairs. The reception room quiets as the villagers peer over each other to see the body of the doctor bleeding from his mouth on the floor. Morweena jumps up, pushing her way through the villagers to the prone doctor, she carefully checks for his pulse and not able to feel it, pulls her mobile out to call the Doc,
"Doc, we had an accident in the surgery. The locum fell down the stairs and I can't find his pulse," she yells over the shocked excitement of those near her. She listens as he explains what to do, "I will," she states quietly. Morweena hangs up and calls 9-9-9, she waits for the dispatcher to answer, "I need an ambulance, Portwenn surgery, a patient fell down a flight of stairs, he is unconscious." She listens to a few questions asked by the dispatcher and answers no to all. Finally, the dispatcher asks if Doctor Ellingham is nearby to render aid, "Yes, he is on his way. How long will the ambulance take, the Doc will want to know," she questions. "Right, I'll let him know."
I burst through the door a few minutes later with my medical bag in hand. I scan the scene and quickly start working on the man, "Morweena, how did this happen?"
"I'm not sure, I heard him moving around upstairs, and the next thing I know he is tumbling down the stairs and landed right where you see him now. Nobody touched him except for me and I only felt for his pulse, first at the wrist then I touch his neck."
"We need you to clear this room," I shout, "Morweena take everyone through to the kitchen and out the back door now."
"You heard the Doc, EVERYONE OUT THE BACK DOOR," she yells as she walks through the room to the back hall.
I hear the grumbling among the few, especially Bert, as Morweena starts physically moving him and others out. When Morweena finally returns, I have finished my examination of the late Doctor George Burnt, "Morweena, go upstairs and find a blanket in the hall linen closet. Mm… Thank you," I say.
Morweena quickly climbs the stairs, noticing the shoes on the landing as she reaches the top stair tread, 'I bet that is what cause the drunk Tosser to fall,' she mumbles as she opens the door and pulls out the purple blanket, and carefully sidesteps the shoes on her way back down. "Here you go Doc. How is he?"
"Dead," I state as I shake out the blanket to cover his body.
"I believe he tripped on one of his shoes that are lying at the top of the stairs," Morweena says.
"I locked the front door to keep out noisy villagers. Listen for the ambulance. I need to make a call to the PCT. I'll be in my office," I announce. I get up and step over the dead body and walk into my office, just as I am about to close the door, I hear movement in the kitchen. "Morweena did everyone leave as I directed."
"Yeah Doc… Ohh I should have locked the door…I'll do that now," she says.
"No, I'll lock it," I say. I walk under the stairs and into the kitchen and see the backside of a rotund person turning into the pantry room to hide. "Bert, what are you doing? I yell as I enter the kitchen.
He turns and looks over his shoulder, "I need you to look at my back. I thought I would hang around until the ambulance left and talk Morweena into an appointment. Just doing as you said yesterday, making an appointment."
"Hiding in my pantry when I requested all villagers out of my surgery, doesn't bode well Bert. I won't be holding surgery today, it is closed. PC Penhale can find you at your restaurant for your witness statement. Now get out," I state. I move into the kitchen and open the back door ushering Bert out the door, closing and locking it. I walk back under the stairs and into the consulting room to sit at my desk as I call PC Penhale to report the accidental death.
"Penhale, I need you to come to the surgery. There was an accident in the surgery this morning. Doctor Burnt tripped and fell down the staircase. He fractured the bones in his neck and died. The ambulance is on the way to remove the body. The surgery was full of patients. Morweena can provide the names for you to interview."
"Doc, I'll be right over, the 'Dynamic Duo' working together again," he said to the dial tone.
My next call is to Chris Parsons, to inform him of the death, "Chris, there was an accident at the surgery this morning resulting in the death of Doctor Burnt," I announce.
"He's dead, how? Mart, you need to give more information than just announcing an accident."
"From the smell of him, he was drunk. According to my receptionist, he tried to come down the stairs to the reception room and tripped over his own shoes at the top of the stairs. The fall fractured his spine, and from the look of it, the C1-3 severed the cord. I found him at the bottom of the stairs ten minutes after the accident. Patients can verify the accident. I personally saw him last evening drinking in the pub. Anything else you need me to explain," I ask.
"That leaves the village without full medical coverage. Doctor Ledford is currently engaged on a contract until mid-September, there isn't anyone I can send your way."
"I will rework my surgery schedule, but I do need coverage for the after-hours part of each week for now. I'll rearrange my appointments and duty coverage and call you with that information later today. Chris, I hear the ambulance arriving, I need to speak with them."
As usual with any phone conversation with Martin Ellingham, the line is disconnected before Chris can reply.
I walk out of my office as Morweena is unlocking the latch on the front door and opening it to the medics. They catch the sight of the purple blanket covering the prone body and look up at Morweena.
"The body is Doctor Burnt temporary medical at the surgery. He tumbled down the stairs and fractured the upper cervical spine severing the spinal cord. His death was almost instantly. My receptionist felt for a pulse but couldn't find it and called me. I was here in less than ten minutes." During the time I explained my examination, one of the medics wrote notes, while the other performed the same examination I performed earlier.
"Doctor Ellingham, if you could sign this form for the medical examiner," asks one of the paramedics. I was busy reading the form and signing it as the medics left and returned shortly with the trolley. They placed the dead doctor in a body bag and strap it to the trolley. As they were about to leave Penhale comes through the door barring them with his body from leaving.
"You can't remove the body until I finish searching the crime scene," he announces.
"Penhale what are you talking about? This isn't a crime scene, but a domestic accident in one's home. He tripped on his shoes and tumbled down the stairs fracturing his spinal cord. Death was instant."
"Dead is dead Doc, I need to get witness statements to make sure there was no foul play in his death. Do we know who put the shoes at the top of the stairs ensuring he would trip over them?"
The medics look over towards me with questioning looks on what to do. "Joe, the doctor was upstairs sleeping and it was noisy in the reception with people vying for appointments. I heard him stumbling around upstairs like he does most mornings and the next thing I know he is rolling down the stairs. He hit the wall and stair tops with different parts of his body as he came down. He landed there," she points to the base of the stairs close to the wall. "His head struck the wall there," again pointing to the lower outside wall. "He didn't move or make a sound after he landed. I didn't move him except to take his wrist feeling for a pulse, but couldn't find it and then put my fingers on his neck and didn't find a pulse there either. His chest was not rising up and down so I knew he wasn't breathing. I called the Doc and he was here in a flash." She walks over to her desk and picks up a sheet of paper and hands it to PC Penhale. "These are the patient's names that were sitting in reception when he came bouncing down the stairs. Bert had the best seat from over there," she says as she points to the window seat.
"Penhale, I believe we are done here. Go talk to those patients and let the paramedics do their job by removing the body," I say.
PC Penhale looks at each of our faces, finally realizing there was no changing Doc's mind to murder. "I'll just investigate the upstairs and locate my evidence to file with my report," he says as he walks over to the staircase and looks up expecting the staircase to talk to him like in one of those detective shows.
"Penhale, the doctor smelled of alcohol and you know he was in the pub last night, talk to them about the amount of alcohol he consumed. Talk to the woman he was sitting with, she might provide you with more information for your report," I say in a sarcastic tone and turn to walk back into my office, "Morweena, we need to reschedule appointments for today."
ME/LE
The news of the accidental death at the surgery is the main topic all day in shops, down near the Platt, and as far out as the moor. The news breached the walls of the school causing Louisa to call my mobile. "Martin, what happened?" she asks.
"Do you remember Doctor Burnt in the pub last evening, drinking at the bar? He consumed an excessive amount of liquor and was inebriated this morning and tripped on the stairs, falling down them to the reception floor, and died. Penhale believes it is murder and is investigating." I change the subject so I don't tell Louisa anymore about the doctor's death. "Are you tired, I can pick you up and take you home?" I ask.
"That would be nice and yes I am a bit tired. Thank you, Martin, we will be waiting at the school gate for you."
"Yes, give me a few minutes to lock up here."
I disconnect and look over to the computer printout Morweena laid on my desk before she left. I pick it up and fold it, placing it in the side pocket of my medical bag and turning off my desk lamp. Leaving, I relock the front door and walk over to the car, placing my bag on the floor of the backseat before getting in and starting the engine. My mind starts going over the new schedule, I feel it will adequately provide medical coverage to the village over the next few months and still allow me time to watch over Louisa. My mind wanders back to Louisa, she must be tired if she admitted it. I pull up to the school gate, parking the car close to Louisa and Melanie. I watch as Melanie helps Louisa into the car and takes her place in the backseat. I am able to pull away just as I see Penhale in the rearview mirror running towards us yelling about parking in a no-parking area. It is a short drive as I maneuver my car through the narrow streets back to our home.
When we enter, I return my medical bag to my study and pull out the schedule, placing it on my desk. I plan to go over it with Louisa later today after I talk to Chris. I walk into the kitchen to find Louisa sitting at the table drinking a glass of water, and notice her pale complexion. As usual, she worked too hard this morning. "I'll start our lunch and then you can take a nap," I say looking at her, half expecting an argument.
"Yeah, that would be good. I am knackered and this baby bump looks bigger today than last night."
"Let me make the lunch and I'll give you a massage to help you to sleep," I say with a proud smile as I notice her bump seems to be bigger on her small frame. I busy myself with lunch for three and when everyone finishes I wash up the dishes and clean the kitchen. I look over my shoulder and notice a faraway look on Melanie's face, as she stares at me and wonders what is on her mind.
"Melanie, Doctor Ellingham is home for the rest of the day, he will make sure I don't overdo, so I'll see you bright and early tomorrow morning," Louisa states as she noticed the strange staring also.
"Sure Mrs. Ellingham. See you tomorrow morning."
Melanie gathers her bag and walks out of the room towards the front door. I listen for the closure of the latch, then look over to Louisa, "What was that look? She must have something on her mind."
"Yes, it was like she was looking right through you in a daydream type of look," Louisa says.
"Let's not worry about her. I rather get you up to our bedroom so you can rest," I respond.
"I wish you were taking us to our bedroom to seduce me," she says with a wicked grin.
I look at my wife in disbelief, "Louisa you haven't been medically clear for any activities espec…," I stop mid-word as I look closely into her eyes and see my wife grin.
She rolls her eyes, "Yes Martin, I was teasing."
I pick my jacket off the chair top and help Louisa up the stairs and onto the bed, placing the full-length body pillow close to her front. After hanging my jacket up, I cuddle up next to her in bed and gently knead her shoulders down to her lower back. Doctor Gee gave me some pointers on massaging the injured coccyx and I work my way through the massage, listening to Louisa groan from the release of her pain and tightness. As I finish placing the pressure lastly on her hips, I can feel the muscles in her body relax as she leans towards the pillow and falls asleep. I lay cuddled close and wrap my body around her, feeling a deep desire for her with this touch. Mentally I know I can't physically be with my wife except like this for many months maybe not until after the birth of our children. I close my eyes breathing in Louisa's essence and I am calm and satisfied.
Later that afternoon I am sitting in my study on the phone going over the schedule I worked on with Chris Parsons. He seems satisfied and is willing to call Doctor's Steward and Samuel to cover four nights each week for emergencies out on the moors as I will take care of the village. My earlier start of appointments will take care of the patients I would normally see during my new extended lunchtime that I will spend with Louisa. As I explained to Chris, the help of a village woman over the summer watching over Louisa is the only reason I can work these extended hours. He seems pleased that we found some help and promised to talk to Doctor Ledford and extend him a contract to cover either full-time or part work starting in mid-September and extend until I can return to the surgery after the birth of the twins.
"You do know that twins will be harder, especially if they are born earlier than thirty-six weeks"
"Yes and that is why I need to care for Louisa now to safeguard the pregnancy for as long as I can. Healthy meals and plenty of rest will lessen her stress and the fetuses will be healthier. Doctor's Rawle and Gee will help and I also appreciate your help to meet our goal of thirty-six weeks minimum. If we can make it that far the rest of the days after that will be a golden bonus for my children's lungs."
"Mart, let me know whatever you need and I will help where I can. I have one request, the last Saturday of next month is the last day of the medical conference, I need you there that day and sorry friend you can't say no. I rescheduled the important part of the conference to ensure you could come and speak. Between the two of us, we must convince the paper pushers in NHS of our need in Cornwall. I understand John Rasmussen will be here for this conference and he wants to talk to you. Do you know what that is all about?"
"No, except he mentioned it at the service in London." I grumble my other feelings out loud, "I don't want to be away from Louisa that long, even if it is only a day."
"I am sure Tracy would like to see Louisa at the dinner being held that night so I suggest they spend the day at my house together and Tracy will ensure Louisa rests. She can help Louisa find a dress for the occasion."
"Chris, I just spoke of Louisa's need to rest, going shopping can be very tiring, and then standing for hours in the evening will not be good for her back."
"Talk to her Mart. If you don't allow her to do anything during this pregnancy, she will rebel like most women and do something stupid. I'll have Tracy call Louisa tomorrow and she help set up this dress shop where she is best friends with the owner. They can put together some dresses and bring them to Portwenn for Louisa to try on. Now before you say anything, Tracy is the one that suggested the dress shopping and her friend is very happy to help. Don't say no. Tracy and I would love to see Louisa and spend some time with her."
"I will talk to Louisa this evening and we will decide together if this is a good idea. I don't think it is but women never think logically they let their hormones rule them."
I hear noises caused by movement above me and know Louisa is awake, "Chris, I need to go help Louisa and I promise to talk with her regarding the conference dinner and will let you know if I plan to come to the conference. Good-bye, and thank you for your help today."
ME/LE
I lay Louisa's plate in front of her, "Roasted chicken breasts stuffed with spinach, asparagus roasted with garlic and crumbled feta cheese on top. I steamed Phillip sweet potatoes and cut up a few for us, and for after's, there are berries with yoghurt," I announce.
Louisa looks down at her plate. "Everything Doctor Rawle put on my food list," she says with a look I'm not sure if she is happy with the meal or what exactly.
"Louisa in the early stages of a pregnancy folic acid is very important and with twins your body is calling for all it can absorb. If you want to sit down tonight at the computer and put a meal menu together for the next week and I would appreciate your thoughts, but I will ensure each meal and snack will fortify your body and the fetuses. It is my duty as your husband and father of these children." I place my plate down next to the bowl of food for Phillip that is cooling. I look at Louisa waiting for a complaint.
"Martin that isn't what I meant. I actually was thinking thank goodness it wasn't fish and kale again. There are times I just feel like beans on toast for a meal, with a salad or vegetable on the side, of course."
"I will make your beans and toast for lunch tomorrow along with a salad. I understand you enjoy certain foods more than I do and have researched healthy ways to present them to you." I place Phillip's bowl on his tray and he happily picks at the chicken, sweet potato, and peas. He looks at his mother, smacking his lips, and smiling happily with his father's dinner choice.
Louisa and Phillip are enjoying one of his books in the lounge on the sofa as I clean up the kitchen. Phillip made a mess of his tray and chair as he was determined to feed himself the berries covered in yoghurt, so it is taking longer than usual to clean up, but I keep an ear out for them from the kitchen. When I am finished, I sit alongside Phillip on the sofa listening to the last part of the story about the little blue train*. I bought the book while we were in London on one of my walks it was in the window display and I recalled Auntie Joan reading it to me on one of my early trips to Cornwall. I believe I was four. I can see Phillip is leaning into Louisa now, falling asleep. Poppy must have kept him busy today. I reach over and carefully lift him onto my shoulder,
"I'll put him to bed and come back down and we can work on the menu for the week."
"Martin there is no need, I trust you with your choices. I am just moody. You can blame it on my pregnancy hormones," she says with a teasing smile.
"Then let me know in the morning what you feel like for supper and I'll make it for you," I say. "There is something else we need to discuss when I come back down."
I shift Phillip a bit as I walk up the stairs and place him gently into his cot. I cover him with his special blanket and place his purple dinosaur under his arm.
When I returned downstairs, Louisa wasn't on the sofa but I could hear sounds coming from the kitchen. I enter the kitchen to find Louisa putting the kettle on for tea.
"I found a tea to help you during your pregnancy. I know how you like your evening tea and this one," I say as I reach into the cupboard, "is an herbal tea that satisfies your tea cravings. It will tone your uterus and with the mint clear your mind. It tastes sweet from the chamomile so you won't need sugar." I hand the box to her to read while I pull out my tea bag and mug so I can join her.
"Where did you find this tea," she asks then continues reading out loud, "Organic Pregnancy Tea from Organic Herbals, I never heard of this tea company."
"When Doctor Rawle mentioned your diet, I did some research knowing you like tea and your regular tea is not on your current diet."
I reopen the cupboard and pull more boxes from the shelf, "The ginger tea you are currently drinking and I found some others. Pulling out the next tea box in line and handing it over to Louisa, "This raspberry leaf tea helps to provide iron and has laxative properties. In the second and third trimesters, most pregnant women have issues. You should drink one to three cups of it a day starting around thirty-two weeks as it has health benefits for labor. All these teas are organic and provide different benefits, this tea is called Lighted Headed, and it alleviates heartburn during pregnancy. You drink it before meals."
She stands next to me reading labels about the different teas, picking up one of the boxes she asks, "How will this one help me?"
"Ahh… it is a tea that will promote milk production. Feeding twins will put a burden on you and I thought this tea could help," I say as I blush as I remember how the act of feeding Phillip made me react to her. "Go sit and I'll bring our teas, I need to discuss something with you."
I bring our tea mugs into the lounge handing Louisa her mug, before setting mine on the table as I sit down.
"I'mmm… Louisa… Chris requested I attend a medical conference in Truro at the end of next month. You will be about eighteen weeks along by then… I really don't want to be away the whole day at this conference. It is the conference John Rasmussen spoke of at the service, the NHS new budget rollout. Chris and I are not happy with several points of it, which is why Chris ordered me to attend. He and Tracy have been talking and they would like to see you and suggested that we attend the conference and the dinner with them. I explained my concerns regarding your health but he felt I am overreacting. He said the three of us could take care of your needs throughout the evening… he said you may actually enjoy dressing up and going out." I quickly pick up my mug of tea, sipping the hot liquid to help my dry throat as I wait for her response...
"Oh Martin, I would love to see Chris and Tracy for an evening out. Get dressed up but I don't have a fancy dress except for the one I brought in London for that night with Holly and I certainly can't wear it now with this," she places her hands on either side of her bump.
"You don't think it will be too much for you?" I question. I can't see the need to put Louisa on her feet most of the evening listening to idle chit-chat.
"I can rest for most of the day. I can dress early so when you come home to change I'll be ready and rested."
"I wouldn't come home to change. Chris offered his home for us. Tracy said she would take care of you and help you with your dressing if necessary. Tracy has a friend that runs a boutique that specializes in maternity evening wear and offered to select some dresses and they would come here for you to try."
"Ohm, Tracy would do that for me? How wonderful. Martin, I would like to go out with you and maybe we can dance a few slow dances together if they have music. I really would love it after what has happened the last month."
As she makes her request, she runs her hand across my chest. My mind lightens from her pheromones and of course, I can't say no to her. I've made her happy.
"I'll let Chris know in the morning. Expect a call from Tracy to schedule the dress fitting," I state as I lean towards her to place a light kiss on her lips. "You are sure it won't be too tiring for you?"
"I've learned to take it easy and if I do start to tire I'll let you know and we can leave."
I take her tea mug and place it on the table with mine, then reach around her shoulders to hug the most important person in my life and slowly slide my free arm down to her bump. I love this feeling of life, one I helped to produce. I look at her belly then back up to her face, "I love you very much. In just a short time you have given me so much. Something I would never think possible for so many years." I finish with another kiss, this time deeper with more passion.
"I'm a bit tired," Louisa says as I release her lips, "It was a busy day. Take me to bed, husband."
I pick up our empty mugs, take them to the kitchen and place them in the dishwasher. I check the back door is locked and return to take Louisa's hand in mine and we walk to the staircase, slowly going up to our bedroom. We stop to check on Phillip, who is sleeping soundly before we go to our room to begin our nightly ablutions.
End of Chapter
*The book is one of my children's favorites: 'The Little That Could' with my children repeating the famous saying by the little blue engine; 'I think I can, I think I can… as I read. One day my oldest was playing with the little girl next door, she was reading one of her books to her. Our neighbor was surprised that she could read the book at the age of 4. Smiling I said, she isn't reading the book. She has it memorized word for word. The joy of reading is important to our children as they grow. Take the time to volunteer at your local library or school and read to the children.