The Doctor's Engagement

by Sarah Morgan

  CHAPTER FOUR

  THE following evening Holly attended her first lifestyle clinic, along with Ian, Mark and a pretty dietician called Samantha.

  ‘All the patients coming to this clinic have had a previous myocardial infarction,’ Ian told her as they prepared for the clinic together. ‘The idea, really, is to give them ongoing support and encouragement. So if they’re trying to lose weight or stop smoking, we try and help in whatever way we can. That might be by using behaviourally oriented counselling, or just by giving moral support. I liked your idea of running a group discussion. Would you be prepared to start that tonight if people are keen?’

  ‘Of course.’ Holly gave him a swift smile and quickly checked that she was familiar with all the literature they were giving out. ‘This looks much the same as the material we used in my last practice, so there shouldn’t be a problem there.’

  ‘I use some of my own diet sheets,’ Samantha told her, delving into a large bag and bringing out a handful of booklets. ‘They’re usually popular because they’re pretty straightforward and easy to understand.’

  Holly took the leaflets from her and glanced through them. ‘Oh, yes, these are good.’ She tucked a wayward strand of pale blonde hair behind her ear. ‘If we run a discussion group we could always get the patients to suggest recipes. If we collect enough we could do a practice recipe book.’

  ‘That’s a fantastic idea!’ Ian grinned at Mark. ‘Your fiancée is jolly creative, isn’t she?’

  ‘She’s amazing,’ Mark said softly, an intent look in his dark eyes as they fixed on her face. ‘And what about the exercise class, Holl? Did you ring the leisure centre?’

  ‘Yes.’ Holly blushed under his gaze, wishing he wouldn’t look as though he wanted to devour her. Wasn’t he taking the act a little too far? ‘They’ve given me a weekly slot on Monday evenings at seven o’clock. Caroline designed a poster for me on the computer this morning and I’ve got some handouts for people.’

  She’d been surprised and relieved when Caroline had suggested working on a poster. After a few days off, the woman had seemed almost cheerful. Holly hoped that it was the start of a more comfortable working relationship.

  ‘What sort of class will you do?’ Samantha looked at her with interest and Holly smiled.

  ‘Well, basically it will be a general keep-fit session, suitable for everyone.’

  ‘Maybe I’ll come.’ Samantha flexed her muscles and did a little dance. ‘The only exercise I get is chewing lettuce leaves.’

  ‘Typical dietician.’ Mark rolled his eyes and gave her a crooked grin. ‘Why can’t you battle with saturated fat like the rest of the population?’

  ‘Probably because I’m a “typical dietician”,’ Samantha said tartly, ‘and, anyway, you’re a fine one to talk! You’re hardly out of shape yourself, Mark.’

  They all glanced at Mark except Holly who studiously looked the other way. She was becoming a bit too conscious of just how good Mark’s body was and she didn’t want to think about it any more than necessary.

  ‘OK, folks.’ Ian glanced at his watch. ‘Let’s open the doors.’

  After that there was a steady stream of people and Holly was kept busy checking blood pressures and talking about the importance of diet and exercise.

  ‘I’ve smoked forty a day since I was eighteen,’ one man told her gloomily, holding out his arm for the blood pressure check. ‘I know I need to stop, but I just can’t kick the habit.’

  Holly checked his blood pressure and recorded it carefully. ‘It’s very hard, Mr Finn,’ she said quietly. ‘It’s an addiction, and if it was that easy to give up, everyone would have done so a long time ago. We need to try and find a way that will work for you.’

  ‘I’m full of good intentions and I’ve stopped quite a few times,’ he admitted, rubbing his craggy face with nicotine-stained fingers. ‘But I always start again.’

  ‘That’s often what happens when people try and battle with an addiction,’ Holly assured him. ‘Look on it as part of the giving up process. Modifying addictive behaviour isn’t easy. The important thing is that you keep trying! What makes you start again, do you know?’

  ‘Not really.’ He shrugged. ‘The first time I went to the pub and everyone else was smoking and that was that. The second time it was my daughter’s wedding and the wife was so stressed out I was desperate for a cigarette.’

  ‘What’s the longest time that you’ve given up for?’

  ‘Three months,’ he told her, and then gave a rueful grin. ‘And that was after my heart attack. I was too ill to lift a cigarette.’

  Holly smiled but her eyes were serious. ‘You know how important it is to give up, don’t you, Mr Finn?’

  ‘Yeah.’ He nodded slowly. ‘Dr Logan reads me the Riot Act every time I see him. Says that people like me who smoke after a heart attack double their risk of dying.’

  ‘And he’s right, you know that.’ Holly’s voice was gentle and Mr Finn pulled a face.

  ‘Yeah—and this time I’m determined to stick at it.’

  ‘Good for you.’ Holly sat back in her chair and looked at him thoughtfully. ‘So we need to persevere and find a method that helps you give up.’

  She spent a long time with Mr Finn, talking about his lifestyle, trying to look for solutions together to solve his smoking problem, then she sent him to see Mark with a request for nicotine replacement.

  ‘How did you do with Mr Finn?’ Ian asked her as they stopped for a five-minute break between patients.

  ‘Quite well, I think.’ Holly frowned. ‘We decided that his lifestyle encouraged his smoking, so he’s going to give some thought to taking up a hobby of some sort to stop him going to the pub on a Friday night. And he’s going to see Mark for nicotine replacement.’

  ‘If you can stop Jack Finn going to the pub on a Friday night then you’re a genius,’ Mark drawled as he passed on his way to see Samantha. ‘I’ve given him a prescription for nicotine replacement but I’m not overly optimistic. He’s never come back two weeks running before.’

  Holly smiled broadly. ‘He’s promised to come back next week and he’s signed up for my exercise class.’

  Mark stopped in his tracks. ‘He’s signed up for your exercise class?’

  ‘Absolutely.’ Holly laughed at the look on his face and her eyes challenged him. ‘Why shouldn’t he?’

  ‘Well, because...’ Mark gave a gulp of disbelief and shook his head. ‘Because keep fit isn’t exactly Jack Finn’s scene. I can’t see him in Lycra somehow, can you, Ian?’

  Ian was laughing. ‘Frankly, no. How did you do it, Holly?’

  ‘You’re both awful!’ Holly gave them a disapproving look. ‘For a start, keeping fit isn’t about Lycra and it certainly isn’t restricted to women. How about you, Mark? You keep fit, what’s the difference?’

  Mark was still laughing, undaunted by her disapproval. ‘That’s different. I don’t dance around a room in tights.’

  ‘Which just goes to show that you’ve never attended one of my classes,’ Holly said calmly. ‘I challenge you to join us on Monday, Dr Logan. You might be surprised. In fact, that’s an excellent idea. If I can tell everyone that you’ll be there, too, it will encourage the rest of the men.’

  ‘Great idea!’ Ian slapped Mark on the shoulders and Mark shook his head, his gorgeous eyes still creased with laughter.

  ‘I’m not much of a dancer, Holl.’

  ‘It isn’t about dancing,’ Holly told him primly. ‘It’s about keeping fit. And seeing as you pride yourself on being in peak condition, you can come and show us all how it’s done. I’ll guarantee you’ll sweat.’

  ‘Yes, boss.’ Mark grinned at her and she smiled back, admitting to herself that he was a good sport.

  ‘And, for your information, I haven’t called it Keep Fit.’ She reached across to one of the tables and picked up a leaflet that Caroline had designed for her that morning. ‘Caroline and I decided that Get Physical had more of a universal appeal. It’s g
oing to be a series of eight classes to begin with and I’m going to give everyone additional exercises to do in between classes at home.’

  ‘Are you really hoping to attract lots of men?’ Samantha asked curiously. ‘I think that’s a brilliant idea. The men always get left out.’

  ‘If Holly’s dressed in Lycra the men will be queuing back to Dorset,’ Mark said dryly, touching her gently on the cheek. ‘Better wear a baggy tracksuit.’

  Holly rolled her eyes and gave him a disapproving look. ‘Haven’t you got anything better to do than laugh at my fitness class?’

  Mark grinned. ‘Offhand I can’t think of anything—’

  ‘Come on, lad.’ Ian grabbed him by the arm. ‘Mrs Fry has just come in and you know you’re her favourite.’

  Mark groaned and followed Ian across the room, leaving Holly with Samantha.

  ‘I’ve gathered a group of eight in the coffee-room,’ Samantha told her, handing her a list of names. ‘Mostly women, all wanting to discuss diets. We’re ready when you are.’

  ‘Brilliant.’ Holly gave her a smile. ‘Let’s get started, then, shall we?’

  The two women sat down with the group and amazingly quickly everyone was talking freely about their dietary habits and worries.

  ‘It’s just so complicated,’ one woman moaned as she looked at the diet sheet. ‘I know you’re meant to eat more fish, but which fish?’

  ‘Oily fish is good,’ Samantha told her. ‘Things like mackerel, sardines, salmon.’

  ‘I know what I’m meant to eat,’ another woman said, ‘but I haven’t got the time to cook one thing for me and another for the family.’

  ‘So we need to find recipes that are low in fat and suitable for you,’ Holly said quickly, ‘but still appealing to the family.’

  ‘But they don’t want to lose weight,’ someone protested, and Samantha nodded.

  ‘That’s true, but almost everyone could do with cutting the amount of saturated fat that they eat, so what you need to do is plan a healthy menu and just give them larger portions. They can eat more potatoes and more pasta and fill up on vegetables.’

  ‘How do I stop eating chocolate?’ someone asked. And some of the other women chipped in with ideas and suggestions to help.

  By the end of the session all the women were firm friends and agreed that sharing their problems had somehow made it all more interesting.

  ‘Will you be doing this again next week?’ one of them asked as they were leaving, and Samantha nodded.

  ‘Definitely, if you’d like to. Why not all choose a recipe that your family has enjoyed and then we can share them around?’

  There was a murmur of agreement and the group left the room, chatting.

  ‘Ready to go home?’ Mark was waiting for her in the corridor, his car keys in his hand. ‘Tina and Ian are locking up this week. Our turn next week.’

  They said goodnight to the rest of the team and walked out towards the car park.

  ‘How on earth did you persuade Caroline to help you with your posters?’ Mark looked at her curiously as he held the door open for her to pass through. ‘I thought she was being less than helpful before?’

  Holly gave a shrug. ‘She just offered. I don’t know why. Ever since her days off she’s been more cheerful. She was being really nice to me this morning.’

  ‘Hmm.’ Mark fiddled with his car keys as they strolled across the car park. ‘I noticed her talking to Greg earlier in the week. I wonder—’

  Raucous laughter interrupted him and Holly froze as she saw a group of teenage boys drinking and misbehaving in the street outside the medical centre.

  Realising that she’d stopped walking, Mark paused and glanced back at her, his eyes narrowing.

  ‘Holl?’ He closed the distance between them and frowned down at her. ‘What’s wrong?’

  ‘Nothing.’ She was being ridiculous, but she couldn’t help it. It took so little for it all to come rushing back. In this case it was the sound of laughter. Totally innocent laughter, but it just reminded her...

  Instinctively she moved closer to Mark and he slipped an arm round her shoulders in a protective gesture.

  ‘How long is it going to take you to tell me about this?’ His voice was grim and his arm clamped her firmly against him.

  For a brief moment she allowed herself to enjoy the safety of his arms and then she pulled away.

  ‘There’s nothing to tell, Mark,’ she said, her voice firm. ‘I’m fine now. I was just a bit... cold.’

  ‘Cold.’ He stared at her for a long moment, jangling the keys in his long fingers as his eyes searched hers. ‘Right. We’ll leave it at that for now. But sooner or later you are going to have to tell me what’s going on and it had better be sooner, Holly.’

  * * *

  She was drinking coffee on the deck the next morning when Mark joined her, his dark hair still damp from the shower.

  ‘You’re looking smart for a Saturday,’ he said on seeing her tailored skirt and neat blouse.

  ‘I’m going to see Anna Watts,’ Holly told him, finishing her coffee and putting the mug down on the table. ‘She was so desperate when we saw her on Thursday. I don’t want to leave it until next week.’

  Mark sighed. ‘Holly—’

  ‘She’s on her own, Mark,’ Holly said firmly. ‘Her husband is never there and she has no support. I just want to talk to her and teach her a few basic massage techniques. If we can stop the baby crying it might ease her stress levels.’

  There was a brief silence and then Mark gave her a smile. ‘OK. Fine. Give me five minutes and I’ll come with you.’

  Holly’s eyes widened. ‘You?’

  ‘Why not me?’ He turned and walked back to the kitchen, making himself a coffee and dropping two slices of bread into the toaster. ‘She’s my patient, too, remember? And besides, I’d like to see how she’s doing.’

  Less than an hour later they pulled up outside Anna’s tiny cottage, and before they even left the car they could hear the baby screaming.

  Mark frowned. ‘That baby does not sound happy.’

  Holly nodded. ‘No wonder Anna’s in a state.’

  ‘No wonder,’ he agreed, his mouth set in a grim line. ‘Looks like you were right to visit.’

  They knocked on the door and Anna finally opened the door, still in her dressing-gown. Her hair fell limp and straggly over her thin shoulders.

  She looked pale and very, very tired.

  ‘Oh, Dr Logan.’ She looked flustered and wrapped her dressing gown more tightly around her waist. ‘I wasn’t expecting—I mean—’

  ‘Can we come in, Anna?’ Mark asked gently. ‘Sister Foster promised to teach you some massage techniques and I thought I’d come, too, and see how you were.’

  ‘Oh.’ Anna looked embarrassed and self-conscious. ‘I’m really sorry I’m not dressed yet. I don’t know where the morning’s gone. I’ll put the kettle on for you.’

  ‘Don’t worry about not being dressed.’ Mark was quick to put her at her ease. ‘My sister, who has a set of twins, tells me that she’s gone through an entire day without getting dressed before now, so you don’t need to explain.’

  ‘And don’t worry about the kettle either,’ Holly said firmly, sliding past Mark and giving the woman a warm smile. ‘Let’s have a look at Harry and see why he’s crying.’

  Anna bit her lip and walked towards the screaming. ‘He does that for most of the day,’ she told them, pushing open the sitting-room door. ‘I think that’s why my husband is out so much at the moment. He just can’t stand the noise. Actually I don’t really blame him.’

  Holly bent over the Moses basket which had been placed on the sofa. ‘What’s the matter with you, little fellow? Have you got a tummyache or is it something more?’

  ‘Why don’t I take a good look at him, Anna?’ Mark suggested, putting his bag down on the floor and giving her a smile. ‘If there seems to be nothing wrong, we can take it from there. Has he been like this since his immunisations?’ />
  Anna shook her head. ‘Oh, no. He’s been like this since I brought him home from hospital.’

  ‘He had a very traumatic start to life,’ Mark said, undressing the baby deftly and examining him with careful hands. ‘And some babies just cry more than others, I’m afraid. It may just be that. How’s he feeding?’

  ‘Fine.’ Anna watched anxiously.

  ‘And he isn’t sick after feeds?’

  ‘No. Debra weighed him for me at clinic yesterday and he’s growing nicely.’

  Mark rummaged in his bag for a paediatric stethoscope and listened to the baby’s heart and lungs.

  ‘Physically everything seems fine, Anna,’ he said finally, looping the stethoscope round his neck and lifting the screaming bundle carefully. ‘Come and have a cuddle with your Uncle Mark and tell me what’s wrong.’

  Holly felt her stomach flip as she watched him with the baby, his large hands stroking the tiny frame until the screams subsided.

  ‘He does like to be held, but I can’t carry him around all day,’ Anna said helplessly. ‘I don’t know what to do about it.’

  ‘My sister had a sling,’ Mark said, transferring the baby to his other shoulder. ‘That way she could carry one of the twins everywhere she went.’

  Anna bit her lip. ‘I haven’t tried that.’

  ‘Have you got one?’ Holly asked, and Anna nodded.

  ‘Yes. You know what it’s like with your first. You get given piles of things. There’s one upstairs under the bed.’

  ‘Why don’t you go and find it and, in the meantime, we’ll undress Harry and see if he likes massage,’ Holly suggested, delving in her bag for some oil.

  ‘What’s that?’ Mark laid the baby down gently on the sofa and watched while she undid the poppers of his blue sleepsuit.

  ‘Almond oil.’ Holly rubbed the oil into her palms to smooth and warm them just as Anna returned. ‘I’m just about to start, Anna. Can you take off his vest for me, please?’

  Anna slipped off the vest and Holly gently massaged the tiny body, moving her hands gently and slowly down in soothing waves. At first Harry seemed a bit fretful, but then he seemed to settle down.