‘I can see that. And when I find out who authorised the removal of two-thirds of my medical team…’ The captain looked thoughtful. ‘Of course, we have to report this to the port authorities and they’ll not let us dock until we know more about the situation. I’ll be in touch with our head office, but they tend not to move too fast in cases like this. So this is my problem.’
‘I have a suggestion,’ Maddy said hesitantly, ‘if you don’t mind.’
‘I don’t mind. If you can be of help, that is fine by me.’
‘There’s a doctor I used to work with who lives on the Cornish Coast near here. If he’s available, he’d come out. And I know he’s quite an expert in his field. He might give you the advice you need. His name is Nick Tremayne. Tell him I’m the nurse here.’
‘Telephone number?’
Maddy shrugged. ‘I only know that he has a surgery in Penhally Bay.’
Captain Smith took up his phone. ‘Jackson? There’s a Dr Tremayne who works in Penhally Bay, which is a few miles away. See if you can get him on the phone.’
Surprisingly quickly, the phone rang back. ‘Dr Nick Tremayne? I’m Captain Smith, captain of the large ship you might see a couple of miles off shore. We have a medical problem.’
Unashamedly, Maddy listened in to the conversation. ‘Recommended by a Nurse Madeleine Granger…suspected outbreak of gastroenteritis. This would be a private consultation… So quickly? I’d be much obliged.’
He turned to Maddy. ‘Your doctor’s coming out at once. He says that perhaps I don’t understand how quickly this can spread to become an epidemic. But I do.’
Dr Ed Tremayne always rose early. He never slept very much. Those early morning half-sleeps, when you weren’t sure of what was real and what was imagined. Or remembered. And then you woke to reality. It made you vulnerable and Ed didn’t like feeling vulnerable. He liked to feel he was in control.
For England at the beginning of May, it was a very hot early morning. And it was close too, not like the dry blast of African heat that he remembered so well.
He parked his car by the beach, kicked off his trainers and tracksuit. Most days he came to this little cove for his early morning swim. He loved it. He loved the solitude and he liked the feeling of freedom in the water.
He stretched, then carefully looked round him. An old habit that he couldn’t lose. He liked to know where he was, if there was anything he ought to be aware of. There were thick clouds on the horizon, and his experienced eye told him that there would be bad weather later in the day. He also saw a small tent half-hidden in the bushes. In summer a lot of young people came down here, sleeping wherever they could.
He ran to the sea, glad that no one was around. They’d stare, not at his well-muscled body, but at the scars.
He swam straight out of the cove mouth. He swam hard and fast, there was pleasure in pushing himself. And when he was in the open sea he stopped, trod water for a moment and again looked around him. Then he frowned.
A hundred yards away there was a rubber dinghy holding two young people, aged seventeen or eighteen, splashing, enjoying themselves, with two tiny paddles. Ed trod water nearby.
‘I don’t think you know these waters,’ he warned. ‘There’s a rip tide out there and if you get caught in it you’ll be pulled out to sea. Better get back into the cove. You’ll be safe there.’
‘We know what we’re doing,’ the lad said. ‘We’ll get back when we’re good and ready.’
‘I do suggest you go back now,’ Ed said quietly. ‘I know these waters. We have a few people drown every year. You want to be one of them?’
‘Yeah, drownings, right. Tell you what, you be careful you don’t drown yourself. At least we’ve got some kind of boat.’
Ed swam closer. ‘Paddle this thing back into the cove,’ he said mildly, ‘or I’ll turn it over and you can swim back.’
‘You’ll kill us!’
Ed’s voice was calm but firm. ‘I’m trying to stop you from killing yourselves.’
Suddenly the girl spoke. ‘Kieran, he might be right. And I’m fed up with being out here anyway.’ She looked at Ed. ‘We’re going back now.’
‘I’ll hang around until I see you in the cove.’
He thought he saw that the lad might still be willing to argue, so he said, still in a calm voice, ‘See that shelf of rock over there?’
The two looked to where he was pointing. ‘Yeah.’
‘We found a drowned tourist there two years ago. He’d been in the water two days. He wasn’t a pleasant sight. Now, start paddling back.’
They did. They paddled hard.
Ed finished his swim and when he got back into the cove he discovered that the couple, the rubber dinghy and the tent had gone. He shrugged. He knew he’d been hard on them. But better to lose face than be dead.
He looked round again. On the horizon he saw a cruise ship—not a big one. And close behind it were the dark clouds that meant a storm was coming.
CHAPTER TWO
HE’D only just bought his cottage. Was still working on it slowly, trying to decide what sort of home he needed. Which meant, of course, what sort of life he wanted to lead. So the cottage seemed somehow half-finished.
He’d never owned a house before so he loved it. And he knew that in time he’d turn it into the kind of home he would love even more. But something was missing. He knew what it was but he wouldn’t let himself dwell on it. He had made plans, but those plans had been wrecked. Now he had to go forward; the past was gone.
He had a shower, a quick breakfast and drove up to the surgery. He was not yet a proper partner in the practice, but his father was anxious that he should join them as quickly as possible. There was plenty of work.
Officially, he was still on sick leave after leaving the army. But that would soon be over. Anyway, he felt well. More or less.
He loved the work of being a GP, loved the variety, the chance to meet and to know his patients. But in that case…why was he not more happy than he was? He shook his head, angry with himself. Troubles were there to be overcome.
He was early at the surgery as usual. He walked to the staff lounge. The door was open and there was Nick, his father, talking cheerfully to Kate Althorp, a midwife at the practice. It wasn’t like his father to look so relaxed. His head was bent low over some papers on the table and Kate’s head was close to his. The two were laughing at something.
Just a bit odd, Ed thought. There seemed to be a togetherness there that he hadn’t noticed before. Then he decided he was imagining things.
They hadn’t heard him arrive so for a minute Ed stood and looked at them. His father was a tall, lean, imposing figure, made more imposing by his habitual reserve. He tended to command instant respect—but not instant love. Ed had seen little of his father in recent years, and had never really been close to him. As a man he was hard to get through to. But Ed was trying. The trouble was, they were both reserved men.
He coughed, feeling almost like an intruder. Both looked up and smiled. Kate’s was the friendly warm smile that made everyone take to her. His father’s smile was, well, genuine, but cautious.
‘You’re early, aren’t you?’ Nick asked. ‘And I thought you didn’t have surgery this morning.’
‘I don’t. I’m going up to Clintons’ farm. I want to see Isaac Clinton and I called in to check through his notes.’
His father was interested. ‘Are there problems?’
‘I don’t think it’s anything too serious—not yet. His daughter phoned last night, and asked me to call some time today. She thought her father might have had another angina attack in the afternoon, but she persuaded him to lie down and it passed.’
Kate collected the papers on the table and stuffed them into her brief case. ‘I think we’ve finished here, Nick, and I’ve got things to do. I’ll leave you two to talk business. Bye, Ed.’ Another happy smile and she was gone.
Nick looked after her for a while. Ed wondered what he was thinking. It was no
t like his father to be pensive so early in the morning. But then Nick shook himself and said, ‘Isaac Clinton is an awkward old so-and-so. He thinks that farm will fall to bits if he isn’t always on the lookout. And he’s got a great farm manager in Ellie, that daughter of his. Would you like me to—’
‘My patient,’ Ed interrupted. ‘There’s no need for you to bother. I’ll talk some sense into him. I promise you, if I need help I’ll ask for it.’
‘Of course, of course. I’ve got every confidence in you. You know before his heart attack Isaac had a history of injuries? I spent no end of time up there sewing him together. He just wasn’t safe anywhere near farm machinery. Good farmer, though.’
‘I’ve looked through his notes,’ Ed said with a grin. ‘If he’d got that many injuries in the army, he’d have had a dozen medals by now.’
His father smiled back. ‘And I’ll bet when you first met him he told you about every injury?’
‘In great detail.’
Conversation between them was easier now they were discussing medicine, but it had always been like this. They avoided talking about feelings and there was seldom any obvious show of affection. Personal relationships, especially with those they loved, just weren’t their best point. Even though they both tried. Ed suspected that the feelings were there, they were just never shown. He felt it was a pity.
He drove high onto the moors, enjoying the sunshine. But the air was still close; there was an unpleasant stickiness to it. He knew that some time soon there’d be a storm. Everyone in Penhally kept an eye on the weather.
Clintons’ farm was well kept. Ed drove into the farmyard and was met at the farm house front door by Ellie Clinton. She must have been looking out for him. She smiled, a smile of welcome rather than relief—obviously she was not too worried about her father. Ed had met her several times before. Even though she was the farm manager, she always seemed to be around when he called to see Isaac.
‘Dr Tremayne, it’s good to see you. You must be warm—can I get you a glass of lemonade? I made it myself. Or tea or coffee?’
‘Nothing, thanks. How is your father?’
Ellie stood back from the door, waving him inside. ‘Well, you know. He’s as awkward as ever. Yesterday I caught him loading stones into a cart, he looked dreadful. After an argument I got him to go to bed. And I phoned you. Are you sure you wouldn’t like some lemonade?’
He knew it was probably the wrong thing to do. He wanted the relationship with Ellie to remain strictly doctor-patient, not hostess-guest. But it was hot and she obviously wanted him to try some. ‘Perhaps a small glass,’ he said. ‘Thanks, Ellie.’
He was a guest now so he had to sit down to drink his lemonade and make conversation. He looked at Ellie. She was definitely very attractive, dressed today in a sleeveless, rather low-cut blue dress. She was wearing more obvious lipstick, her hair freshly washed and gleaming. A bit different from the usual farmer’s boots, jeans and T-shirt. ‘Going out somewhere?’ he asked.
She did a little pirouette, the skirt swirling round her calves. ‘Do you like the dress? It was such a lovely day, and I had to wait in for you, so I thought I’d try it on. It’s new, I bought it for the hospital benefit ball. It’s next Saturday. You know, St Piran Hospital. You are going, aren’t you?’
Ed frowned. ‘Somebody mentioned something about it at the surgery. I think quite a few of them are going but I’m not.’
‘But you must! It’s a very good cause, they’re trying to buy a new scanner. And if the doctors can’t support it, well, that’s a pity.’
She looked at him, elaborately casually, as if she had just thought of something. ‘In fact, I have a spare ticket. I was going with my cousin but she can’t make it. You could go as my guest if you liked. The hospital has done a lot for Dad, I’d like to pay a bit back.’
For a moment Ed was tempted. Ellie was an attractive woman, intelligent, and had a great sense of humour. Any man would enjoy her company and be proud to be seen with her. But…why start something that he knew could never have a happy ending? He shook his head, smiled and said, ‘It’s just not my thing. I don’t like big parties. But I approve of the scanner so I’ll buy a book of raffle tickets at the surgery. Now, tell me about your father.’
Ellie smiled sadly and said, ‘He’s not been too bad today. He’s waiting in his room to see you. Do you want to go up?’
Isaac was sitting by the window in his bedroom. He looked up as Ed entered and said, ‘I’m all right, there’s nothing wrong with me. That daughter of mine—’
‘Is too good for you. She’s concerned about you and by the look of you, she has cause to be. Now, do you want to lie on that bed and let me have a look at you?’
Just the usual examination. At first Isaac seemed reasonably healthy, but when Ed eventually listened to his heart he didn’t like the murmurs he could hear.
‘Are you taking your pills regularly, Isaac?’
‘Well, yes, more or less, but they don’t seem to do much for me. I don’t feel any better for taking them.’
‘They do plenty for you. And they’re not meant to make you feel better. They’re to ensure that you don’t get any worse. Listen, Isaac, it’s hard to take but you have to face up to it. You’re not the man you used to be. You can’t be, you’re getting old. And that happens to all of us. You go out into that farmyard of yours again, pretend that you’re a man of thirty instead of sixty-six and one day…’
‘I’ll be ready for the knacker’s yard,’ Isaac said with relish. ‘Don’t wrap things up nicely do you, Doctor?’
‘You don’t need nice, Isaac, you need truth. Now, we’re not stopping you from taking a gentle walk around the place, keeping an eye on things. I’ve told you exactly what you can and what you can’t do. And keep taking the pills regularly!’
Ed nodded at the view across the fields that Isaac had been surveying. ‘You would miss this place if you had to spend months in a nursing home, wouldn’t you?’
It was hard but it was necessary if he was going to get through to this stubborn old farmer. ‘Could it be that bad?’ Isaac asked. He was obviously shaken by that, if nothing else.
Ed patted him on the shoulders. ‘We don’t want to find out,’ he said.
There was a tap at the door. Ellie came in with a jug of lemonade and two glasses. ‘Have you talked sense into him?’ she asked. But there was an obviously fond look at her father.
Ed smiled. ‘He’s got you to keep an eye on him,’ he said. ‘So he should be all right. Now, Isaac, you’re to keep to the house for the next three days. No further than the front door. Plenty of bed rest. Then take it easy, a step at a time after that. Ellie, if there’s any change you can ring me at any time, OK?’
‘OK,’ she said. And added hopefully, ‘Are you sure I can’t persuade you about the ticket?’
‘It’s just not my thing,’ he repeated. He saw the disappointment in her eyes.
Driving back to Penhally, he wondered why he had turned Ellie down. He doubted if there was an unattached woman as attractive as her anywhere in the little town. And he had been attracted. So why had he refused her invitation?
Partly, he knew, it was because he wanted to be fair to her. He knew he could never give her what she wanted. A purely physical relationship, that was fine—but she deserved more than that. He knew the closeness she wanted, because once he had had it himself. He had lost it. And he was not going to risk more pain by looking for it again.
When Ed got out of his car to walk into the surgery he found his shirt sticking to his back. He’d already discarded his tie and jacket. Even moving slowly was like wading through warm water. He looked up at the grey skies and frowned.
As he walked past the reception desk his father came to the door of his room, phone clasped to his ear. He waved at Ed to come and join him. After Ed entered the room, his father promptly shut the door behind him. Ed heard him say, ‘OK, Captain, you sort things out with your head office. I’ll make arrangements to come out
to you at once… No, I can do it quicker myself… Fine, we’ll call it a private call.’
He put down the phone, looked at Ed and said, ‘There’s an emergency. There’s a cruise ship just off shore and they need a doctor.’
‘I thought all cruise ships had doctors.’
‘They did have one. He was taken off the ship yesterday. And now they need him more than ever.’
‘Always the way,’ said Ed. ‘What’s the problem?’
‘A virus—it’s spreading like mad, turning into an epidemic.’
Ed was aware that his father was studying him, and he knew why. But he managed to keep his neutral expression and said nothing.
His father went on, ‘It’s gastroenteritis, but we’ve no idea what has caused it. Could be mild, it could be severe.’
There was a moment’s pause and then Ed said, ‘Well, I’m available this afternoon, and I’m the obvious one to go.’
He knew what his father was going to say next, but he waited for him to say it.
‘I think I ought to go,’ Nick said after a while. ‘I know the nurse who’s reporting it, we’ve worked well together in the past. She thinks it might be quite serious.’
‘But you’ve got surgery all afternoon and this evening. I’m available.’ Ed paused a minute and then said, ‘Come on, Dad, I know what you’re thinking. So say it.’
Nick smiled, though it wasn’t a very happy smile. ‘Don’t have much time for the niceties, do you? But I appreciate it. All right, I’m not sure you’re fit to deal with a possible large-scale infection. It will bring back memories.’
‘But I am the man who has dealt with an epidemic. In this case, I’m the expert. I know you’re the best man to do the lab work, to work out what strain it is. But for the hour-to-hour medical care, the general organisation, I’m the best. And I can cope with my memories.’
‘Can you?’
‘I have to.’
Nurse Bride, Bayside Wedding Page 2
