“Well, I’m 6’4”, so you must be about 6’.”
RK nodded, “6’1”, actually.”
“And your name?”
“Robyn Keitha Dickinson-Bond.”
“Mmm! I see! Bit of a mouthful. I can understand RK being more manageable but I’m going to call you Robyn.”
“You’ll be my mother’s friend for life.”
“But why the short hair?”
“Long hair got in the way of the engines and it was too much of a bind to keep putting it up.”
“And why did you come to Newton Westerby?”
“There was brief mention of it in a travel brochure which whet…” P.C. Dan put up his arm by way of an apology as his mobile phone interrupted their conversation and he moved a few steps away in order to answer it. RK sat down on a grassy knoll and from its clifftop vantage point watched the movement of the sea as the waves rolled in, one after the other, breaking continuously along the shore, an endless succession, always the same yet, always different.
“I have to go, an incident to deal with,” Dan explained a few moments later.
“Right, I hope it’s nothing serious.”
“Someone’s collapsed in the play-park.”
“Oh dear!”
“I’ll see you around. Just a word of warning, your presence and apparel are causing mayhem in certain quarters in our community, so, take care.”
Before RK had chance to reply, P.C. Prettyman was gone. He raced along the cliff path to the lane where he had parked the police motor-cycle. Immediately he mounted the bike, Dan put on the siren and sped down to the play-park, a prayer in his heart for the family involved in the situation in the park.
RK was left in a quandary. She sat for quite a while wondering what the entire encounter, with Dan Prettyman, had been all about. His questions had been personal, yet, somewhat detached, probing while seeming trivial. She slowly shook her head. He was a likeable young man but RK had a sneaking suspicion that he had been surreptitiously interrogating her.
CHAPTER SIX
It was shortly after their arrival at the play-park on the Village Green, following the encounter with Mrs Jenner on the quay that, without any warning, Laura collapsed in a heap onto the ground. One moment she was pushing Poppy in a baby swing and the next she was unconscious on the safety surface beneath the swings. It all happened so suddenly but Daniel saw her fall as he stood at the top of the slide. He squealed in fright and flew down the slide. “Mu…um,” he yelled as he got to the bottom and ran towards her. By the time he reached her side Kirsten was kneeling over Laura saying, “Mummy wake up.” Daniel pushed his sister out of the way, shook Laura’s arm hard and shouted, “Mum, open your eyes, it’s me, Daniel.”
Poppy started to fidget as the swing slowed down and because no one was paying her any attention she pulled herself up into a precarious standing position. Daniel caught the movement out of the corner of his eye. “Kirsty, keep shaking Mummy and talking to her, I’ll put Poppy in the buggy.”
With a presence of mind far beyond his years Daniel fastened his little sister carefully into her buggy then rummaged in his mother’s handbag for her mobile phone. He dialled 999. When his call was answered he promptly said, “Come quick, Mum needs the ambulance man. She’s deaded in the play-park on The Green.”
“Where’s The Green?”
“Newton Westerby, o’course.”
As he was speaking Daniel’s eyes unconsciously followed the line of houses that nestled around The Green. They stopped when Doctor Cooper’s house came into view. Involuntarily his feet started to take him forwards so that he didn’t properly hear the words spoken by the operator. In fact, so many thoughts were rushing through his head he was beginning to feel confused. Poppy’s cries brought him back to the matter in hand and the need to get help for Mum. He turned back, made his way towards her, and did his utmost to pacify the little girl.
“Shush Poppy, there’s a good girl, look here’s your juice.” Daniel placed the non-spill toddler cup into her hands.
He then turned to Kirsten and thrust the mobile phone at her. “Here, Kirsty, talk to this lady. I’m going to get Doctor John, OK?”
Daniel ran across The Green as fast as his legs would take him. He balled his fist tight and banged on the front door as hard as he could and shouted, “Doctor, Doctor.” Trixie Cooper heard his frantic cries long before she opened the door. Surprised to see Daniel alone and so agitated she turned her head and called with urgency in her voice, “John, come quickly.”
Turning back to her young visitor Trixie smiled warmly, “Hello, Daniel, do come in.”
“No, Mrs Cooper, I can’t. I need Doc John to help Mummy. She’s fallen down.”
“I see. Where are the girls?”
“At the play-park, Poppy’s in the buggy and Kirsty’s watching her, and trying to wake up Mum and talking to the phone lady.”
“She’s very busy, then. We’d better go and help her.”
The news that Laura had collapsed as she played with the children in the playground, spread around the village like wild fire. The villagers were stunned. Talk in the Village Stores, Cooper’s butcher’s shop and the old codger’s bench down on the quay, centred on nothing else for the rest of the day. It completely scotched the speculation that had been rife concerning the leather-clad motorcyclist.
“She fell down an’ passed out so I heard.”
“Did she trip?”
Heads shook uncertainly.
“A stroke, or some such, so they say.”
“Is that roite?”
“Can’t believe it, can yew, Pauline?” said Mrs Saunders as she reached out to take her parcel of sausages.
“It’s certainly come as a bit of a shock and so unexpected,” Pauline replied.
“Especially wi’ ’er be’en’ so young,” continued Mrs Saunders.
“P’rhaps that’s the reason for all those dizzy spells she kept having earlier in the year,” commented Christina Ransome.
“Could be.”
Across the road in the Stores conversation ran on similar lines.
“Fancy that child runnen’ all the way to Doctor Cooper’s,” said Mrs Jenner, who had taken Laura’s advice and brought her coat in to be sent to the cleaners.
“I say thank God he didn’t pani…”
“… and thank goodness for mobile phones,” interposed Rosalie as she finished writing out the docket for Mrs Jenner’s coat.
“Good job they’d taught him ’ow to use one,” remarked another customer.
“Always seemed a sensible lad, young Daniel,” remarked Bernice Durrant coming to join the queue by the till.
“An’ little Kirsty left a-watchen’ the baby, calm as yew please in one so young,” remarked Mrs Jenner.
Jennifer Pedwardine, standing a little aloof from the gossiping shoppers, suddenly asked, “Does anyone know what’s happening about the children?”
Heads in the group shook; no one knew who was looking after them.
“I think someone mentioned they’d been taken to the Doctor’s house,” explained Rosalie.
“They’ll be fine there, then.”
“I say, Rosalie, isn’t the young marrieds’ house group due to be held at Adam and Laura’s home this evening?”
“I believe you’re right.”
“I wonder, too, what they’ll do about worship group practise tomorrow night. I think Adam’s likely to be tied up, don’t you?”
“I’ll mention it to Emma.”
So, in between serving customers, Rosalie drew Emma to one side as she came out of the office and explained their concerns.
“I’ll manage here if you want to take time to pop up to the flat and let Ben know about Laura.” Ben, as church lay reader and youth coordinator, could make any necessary re-arrangements for the group meetings. He was currently in Emma’s flat, above the Stores, re-checking measurements for the plans he had drawn for the proposed renovation so it would only take a moment to acquaint him w
ith the situation.
“What very upsetting news, I hope it’s not as bad as everyone seems to think.” Emma turned, “Thanks, Rosalie, I won’t be long.”
It was with mixed feelings that Emma made her way through the shop, passed the huddle of customers to the back stairwell, her thoughts very much on Laura and how her mishap would affect her little family.
As she climbed the steps she reflected that before long all this would be changed as the builders knocked out some walls, and reconstructed others, to implement Ben’s innovative plans for a coffee shop. She pulled up abruptly, then stopped for a moment, and breathed deeply as remembered that this was the place on the stairs where she had last conversed with her father, the previous Christmas Eve. Father God, thankyou for the strength You’ve given me to carry on since Mum and Dad died. Give strength now to Adam and healing to Laura in this their hour of need. Thankyou, too, for Your gracious patience, it curbs my hastiness and helps me control my temper. I am grateful for Your guidance. More than ever I’m convinced that Your blessing is on this new venture.
With slow, measured steps she thoughtfully continued up the stairs. I’m also sure Mum and Dad would approve these changes. I think they’d see them as progress. I can just imagine Mum’s face as she concocted new dishes to serve in the coffee shop and Dad’s delight at new people coming through the doors would know no bounds. How he loved to chat with all the visitors. He would revel in the possibilities that renovation will present and be excited at the challenge.
Emma pushed her shoulders back and held her head high. I’ll do the same. She reached the top of the flight, pushed open the door and approached Ben with the situation regarding Laura.
Meanwhile, back at the play-park paramedics had attended to Laura’s immediate needs, and then swiftly conveyed her to the hospital in Norwich. Trixie, thankfully had no appointments scheduled for rest of the day, so took the Catton children home with her. She unearthed a box of toys from the cupboard under the stairs, kept for visiting children, and whilst Daniel, Kirsten and Poppy enjoyed delving in to find unexpected treasures Trixie quickly prepared a snack lunch for them.
With a heavy heart Doctor John picked up the phone in the hallway and contacted Adam at his Norwich office. Sensitively, he broke the news of Laura’s collapse and pending arrival at the Norfolk and Norwich hospital and assured the young man of his children’s well being.
“Give all your attention to Laura, my man, the children will be well cared for, so you have no need to worry about them. Our prayers are with you both. If there’s anything at all, that you need, just give me a call.”
John walked thoughtfully back into the surgery. Miranda, sitting at her desk in the reception area, looked up and saw that he appeared to be preoccupied so enquired, “Is everything alright, Doctor?”
John proceeded to quietly outline what was known to have taken place in the playground.
“Oh, Doc, I am so sorry.” Miranda’s tender heart caused tears to flood her eyes.
“Whatever will happen to the little ones?”
“At present they’re with Trixie having lunch in the kitchen. We haven’t yet had opportunity to discuss or plan beyond that, though I do feel the welfare of those children is of paramount importance.”
Miranda blew her nose, wiped her eyes, and took time to compose herself.
“I see.”
“Maybe together we can come up with some suitable arrangement. You’re the world’s best organizer, what would you suggest?”
She smiled up at the Doctor, “Now Doc, flattery won’t get you anywhere.”
“No, but your skill and common sense will, that’s what I’m appealing to at the moment.”
“Just give me a minute.”
Miranda rose from her seat, stood stock still and appeared to be staring into space but John knew from experience she was simply sifting through information stored in her mind and calculating different permutations that could possibly solve the dilemma they had been presented with. John stood patiently by and waited.
After a short while Miranda shook herself, looked straight at the Doctor and said with self-assurance, “I’ve almost finished here, if I may ring Jackie and ask her to come across and discuss the situation, I will have completed the filing by the time she arrives, then together we’ll work out a solution.”
“You will keep me informed?”
“Of course. As soon as we’ve devised a plan I’ll type up the schedule so that everyone, who needs to be aware of what’s going on, has a copy. Does that meet with your approval?”
“Certainly,” John turned to leave the reception area and head back into the hallway of the house.
“Doc, before you go can I ask what time scale you have in mind? Are we looking at interim locums or a long term situation?”
John slowly nodded his head, “I think it highly unlikely that Laura will be returning to work next week, or even the long term future, if at all,” he finished in a murmur.
“You think it’s that serious?”
“Quite possibly.”
“Well, you don’t need me to tell you the ideal solution to this scenario, do you?”
The Doctor raised his eyebrows quizzically as he looked at Miranda.
“Jansy.”
Astonished once more at his receptionists unusual perception at dealing realistically with any problems that occurred John left her to get on with her work. Deep in thought he returned to Trixie and the children.
Jacqueline Cooper, middle daughter of Billy and Pauline, was acting deputy head teacher at Newton Westerby primary school but since Jennifer Pedwardine’s retirement from the headship, at the end of the last school year, a great deal of extra responsibility had fallen on her shoulders.
Jackie had joined the school in the nursery department on completion of her studies and she still had a preference for teaching the younger children but whilst they were understaffed she fitted in where the need was greatest. Currently, she was on school holidays preparing at home for the commencement of a new term.
By the time Jackie arrived at the surgery, in response to her sister’s phone call, Miranda had completed the filing, made numerous phone calls and already had in place a possible rota of locums to fulfil Laura’s duties over the next few weeks.
Miranda, long time receptionist to her uncle, Doctor John, was well renowned in the community as an able organizer. So that, within a short space of time, the sisters were able to devise a workable plan to look after the Catton children.
“It’s naturally going to be an upsetting time for Daniel and the girls,” said Miranda.
“Yes, but at least we’re not strangers to them.”
“Mmm, that’s true.”
Daniel and Kirsten were familiar with Jackie from their attendance at nursery and primary school, as well as, meeting her fairly regularly at services and other functions connected with church. However, Poppy was more comfortable with Miranda because Laura frequently brought her into the surgery to visit the staff. On occasions Laura asked Miranda to keep an eye on the little girl when she and Doctor John needed to discuss patient care. From time to time both sisters, too, had babysat at the Catton home.
“The children are going to find this all a little unsettling. We’ll be able to explain what’s happening with their Mum to Daniel and Kirsten but I think Poppy is going to be rather bewildered by the changes.”
“I agree. I think whatever we decide is going to be a traumatic experience for them. They’re not used to being without their parents for any length of time.”
“Do you have anything planned for the rest of this week?”
“No, nothing… apart from the usual pre-term preparations and…”
“So, what do you say to us both going to stay at the Catton house?”
“That’s a great idea; at least the children will be on familiar territory.”
“It will also relieve Adam of anxiety for the children so he can give time and attention to Laura and her needs.”
> “Let’s get our suggestions into some semblance of order,” recommended Miranda as her fingers flew across the keyboard of the laptop.
When Doctor John returned from lunch Miranda presented him with two very detailed lists for his scrutiny.
“Splendid!”
“Have you heard anything further from the hospital, Doc?”
“Adam’s just called to check that the children are OK. He was pleased that you were sorting that out for him but he was somewhat choked to learn how poorly Laura is.”
“Are you able to say what it is?”
“The Doctors have indicated Laura has suffered a stroke and Adam has given permission to share that news so that idle speculation doesn’t get passed around and people know what to pray for.”
That evening, the house group, due to be held at the Catton’s house, was switched to the home of Ben and Rachel Durrant. By the mysterious village grapevine the news, concerning Laura, had been telegraphed throughout the district, so that all present were aware of the meticulous contingency plans prepared by Miranda for the care of Daniel, Kirsten and Poppy as well as temporary nursing cover for Laura’s position as practice nurse.
Uppermost in everyone’s mind was the apparent severity of Laura’s illness which had taken everyone by surprise. In hushed tones they spoke of the impact it would have on her immediate family and the implications for the wider community because of her nursing skills and involvement at the church.
“I’ll miss her gentle gaiety.”
“Yes, she always has a ready smile for everyone,” agreed Jilly Briggs.
“Behind that quiet reserve she’s a real joker and so full of life.”
“And amazingly she has bags of energy despite running around three little ones all day,” said Rachel.
“I don’t know how she copes. It takes me all my time to look after one,” said Alex with admiration.
“I know the feeling,” grinned Sue Piper, ruefully.
“However will the Doc manage without her at the surgery?”
Out of My Depth Page 6