"Hm." Meldon pushed his hands into his pockets and paced about in the confined space of the office. "You realise, of course, that if you're wrong ..."
"You shall have my resignation on your desk first thing Monday morning," she finished for him.
"I wasn't going to suggest that you resign," he said irritably. "I was merely going to point out to you the repercussions there could be if you happen to be wrong."
"I have no doubt at all that my diagnosis is correct," Jacqueline insisted.
Meldon held her glance speculatively for a moment before he walked over to the desk and lifted the telephone receiver.
"Put me through to Dr. Mason," he spoke into the mouthpiece. There was a pause until Tanya answered. "Tanya, I want you here in Men's Surgical as fast as you can make it."
Without bothering to explain further he replaced the receiver and turned to Jacqueline.
"I must warn you, it's not going to be easy convincing Tanya she was wrong."
"I know," she replied shortly.
They .waited in silence until Tanya arrived, obviously furious at being called out on her free afternoon.
"What's going on?" she demanded.
Meldon chose to remain silent, leaving it to Jacqueline to explain in detail.
"Sister Meyer called me to a patient you admitted yesterday for ulcer treatment which might necessitate an operation. The man was, and still is, suffering from severe abdominal pains. I examined him and am quite certain he has appendicitis."
"Rubbish!" Tanya declared. "I examined him before and after admittance and there wasn't a sign of appendicitis."
"Perhaps you should examine him again," Meldon suggested calmly.
"Darling, do I really have to?”
"I think it would be better if you did."
"Oh, very well," she muttered disagreeably.
Jacqueline glanced quickly at Meldon as they followed Tanya out of the office, but his lean face remained expressionless.
Tanya examined her patient once more while he moaned incessantly.
"You have a virile imagination, Dr. Thornton," she said, stepping back from the bed. "I tell you this man is suffering from an ulcer,"
"Did you have him X-rayed?" Meldon wanted to know.
"No. My examination was conclusive enough."
Jacqueline looked pleadingly at Meldon. "Won't you examine him as well, Dr. Powers, and give us your opinion?”
Meldon obliged and went through the same ritual as Tanya had just done, and when he had completed his examination he stood rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"If it's his appendix we have ho time to lose. I think you should operate, Tanya."
"I refuse to touch him," she blurted out. "I refuse to make a fool of myself by doing an unnecessary operation."
"Please, Doc," the man moaned. "I can't stand much more of this."
Meldon fixed Jacqueline with a penetrating glance. "What do you intend doing?"
"With your permission, Dr. Powers," she pleaded, "I'm going to operate."
Meldon nodded his agreement, and turned to Tanya. "You will assist, and so will I."
Sally Meyer appeared as if called and Meldon took command of the situation. "Sister Meyer, I want this man prepared for surgery, immediately."
It was a silent group that stood around the operating table a short while later waiting for the anaesthetist to give the sign that the patient was ready.
"You can go ahead, Dr. Thornton," he announced eventually.
Jacqueline's eyes met Meldon's over her mask and he nodded encouragement. Her eyes turned to Tanya, standing stiffly beside him, and a tremor went through her at the naked hatred in those eyes. If she should be wrong, Tanya would certainly never let her forget it.
The Theatre Sister slapped a scalpel into Jacqueline's outstretched hand and she made the first incision down to the muscle. There was no turning back now, and when she eventually made another incision through the peritoneum, there was a stifled gasp from Tanya as Jacqueline exposed the caecum, attached to which was the ruptured appendix.
Jacqueline worked fast now. Time was important. It was only when the last stitch was sewn in that she afforded herself the pleasure of a feeling of relief that her assumption had been correct.
Meldon was the first to leave the theatre. "I want you both in my office as soon as you're ready."
As the doors closed behind him, Tanya swung round to Jacqueline. "I suppose you think you're very clever," she spat out savagely. "Well, just remember this. I shall be waiting for the day you make a similar mistake, then I shall have great satisfaction in making sure that you leave this hospital in disgrace!"
She flung her theatre gown into the linen bin and left. Jacqueline's face wore a troubled expression as she watched Tanya leave. There was no telling to what lengths Tanya would go to carry out that threat.
"Don't pay much attention to her, Dr. Thornton," the Sister said comfortingly while undoing Jacqueline's gown. "She's a spiteful devil at the best of times."
Jacqueline smiled involuntarily as she slipped out of her theatre gown. There was no time to brood over Tanya's outburst, and not wanting to keep Meldon waiting, she hurriedly pulled a comb through her hair and left.
Tanya was puffing furiously on a cigarette when Jacqueline entered Meldon's office. Something had obviously been said between them which had not pleased Tanya, for she paced about the floor agitatedly while Meldon was seated behind his desk, disapproval written all over his face.
"Sit down," he said as Jacqueline stood hovering in the doorway. "Both of you."
They did as they were told and sat facing him across the heavy, ebony desk.
"There is one thing I want clearly understood," he began, his glance including both of them. "What happened here today was something that could have happened to anyone. In fact, a similar incident happened to me shortly after leaving university. What you have to remember is that we were in time to remedy the fault, and that's all that matters. The subject is now closed and I don't want it mentioned again."
His glance went from Tanya, who sat staring gloomily at her cigarette smoke spiralling up into the air, to Jacqueline, sitting upright on the edge of her chair.
"Have I made myself clear?" he demanded.
"Yes," Jacqueline nodded.
"Tanya?"
"Of course," she agreed grudgingly.
"Good." His glance swept over Tanya for a moment, then he said quietly: "I would like you to leave us now, Tanya. I want a private word with Jacqueline."
Tanya left without a murmur and Meldon seemed to relax in his chair.
"I must congratulate you on your diagnosis, Jacqueline," he complimented her, "and for sticking to your decision."
"The thought that I could be wrong scared me silly," she admitted freely.
A smile flickered across his face and relieved the tension in the air.
"Dr. Powers?" She looked at him questioningly. "When you examined him, did you ... were you ..."
"Yes, I was certain you were right," he admitted.
Jacqueline relaxed in her chair with a sigh. "Why didn't you say so at the time?”
"I wanted to see if you would allow yourself to be swayed by Tanya's attitude," came his prompt reply.
She considered this disclosure thoughtfully, and when she finally spoke her voice contained a warmth that both surprised and delighted Meldon.
"I want to thank you, Dr. Powers, for giving up your free afternoon to come out when I called you. I'm just terribly sorry that Dr. Mason has been upset by all that happened." She hesitated momentarily. "Perhaps if I spoke to her—"
"No!" Meldon interrupted sharply. His expression softened again immediately when he noticed Jacqueline's look of dismay. "Tanya is best left alone to cool off and get things into perspective."
Jacqueline nodded and rose to her feet. "Perhaps you're right."
"You will remember what I said about not mentioning the subject again?"
"I'll reme
mber," she replied, and left his office to return to the ward.
It was with a sigh of relief that Jacqueline came off duty the following day. She had assured herself that Tanya's patient, whom she had operated on the previous day, was progressing favourably and with the rest of the afternoon ahead of her to do as she pleased, she chose not to spend
it indoors poring over her medical books. She needed to get away from the hospital, she decided as she stepped into the sunshine and walked across to her car.
She was halfway into it when a hand suddenly grasped her arm firmly.
"Hey, Jacky!"
Jacqueline's head shot up and made sharp contact with the door frame. She experienced a moment of agonising pain as she clutched at the door for support and turned slowly to look up into the anxious face of Martin Richter.
"Oh, you fool, Martin!" she snapped at him. "Did you have to pounce on me like that?"
"Sorry, Jacky," he apologised ruefully, "but I was afraid I would miss you. Did you hurt yourself?"
"Oh, no, I didn't hurt myself," she replied sarcastically, still rubbing her head tenderly. "I very nearly cracked my skull in several places, but don't let a little thing like that worry you."
The hurt expression that crossed Martin's freckled face made him look so comical that her aggressiveness left her and she burst out laughing.
"Never mind, I'm still alive to tell the tale," she assured him gently.
"What happened yesterday afternoon?" he wanted to know. "The whole hospital is agog with the news that you operated on one of Tanya's patients and had her and the Chief assisting."
Jacqueline's eyes widened. "Where on earth did you hear this?"
"Apparently one of the nurses in the theatre told a friend of hers in Casualty, and that friend told another, and so on. You know what the grapevine is like."
"Yes, I know what the hospital grapevine is like," Jacqueline replied, getting into the car and closing the door. "You should know by now not to take any notice of what's said."
"Why won't you tell me about it?" Martin asked, bending down to look through the window.
"There's nothing to tell." Jacqueline turned the key in the ignition and pressed the starter. "By tomorrow the grapevine will be buzzing with some new item of news. What happened yesterday will then be forgotten, and it's best to keep it that way."
Martin placed his hand over hers at the wheel. "I won't press you to tell me anything you don't want to. Just tell me this ... Did Tanya give you a rough time?"
"No."
"Good."
Only then did Jacqueline realise how concerned he had been when she noticed him smile with relief. "Where are you rushing off to?" he asked.
"I owe Aunt Ellen Martin a visit which is already months overdue." Jacqueline's foot became impatient on the accelerator.
Martin stepped away from the car. "See you later, then."
"See you later, Martin," Jacqueline replied, pulling away from the curb and waving to him.
She drove towards the main shopping area, where she changed direction and headed for the other side of town where the streets were narrower and the houses smaller.
Ellen Martin lived and worked amongst the poor. She knew their hopes, their fears and desires. When they were in trouble or needed advice, it was to her they went. She would welcome them into her small but comfortable little home and while she served tea in her best china cups she would listen with a sympathetic ear to their troubles. It never ended there, for Ellen Martin belonged to various charitable organisations, and with their help was nearly always able to help those who approached her.
Jacqueline parked her car in the shade of an overhanging tree at her gate. Barefoot children playing in the street halted their game to glance inquisitively at this newcomer to their district, and one small boy, braver than the others, ventured closer to Jacqueline as she stepped out on to the pavement.
"Is it yours?" he asked, pointing to the car.
"Yes."
"My mommy says only rich people have cars." He looked up at her speculatively. "Are you rich?"
"No," Jacqueline laughed, rumpling his hair. "Do I look as though I'm rich?"
He looked her up and down as she stood before him in her white blouse and well worn blue denims.
"No," he said eventually, smiling up at her and displaying a gap where his front teeth ought to have been.
"Where do you live?" she asked with interest.
"Over there." He pointed across the street toashabby-looking house that was crying out for a coat of paint and repairs to the broken shutters and badly twisted gutters.
She concealed her dismay with an effort and looked down into his trusting face. The luxuries of life had passed him by, yet he looked perfectly happy.
"Do you like ice-cream?"
"Yes," he replied, a little doubtful as to her intentions.
"Is there somewhere close by where you can buy some?"
"There's a cafe on the corner. They sell ice-cream in cones," he informed her grandly.
Jacqueline opened her handbag and extracted her purse. "Take your friends to the cafe and you treat yourself and them to one of those ice-creams in a cone," she told him, dropping several coins into his hands.
His eyes widened as he stared at the money, disbelief written all over his grubby face.
"Can I really?"
"Yes, really," she assured him with a smile.
"Gosh! Just wait till the others hear about this!"
He ran off happily to join his friends and Jacqueline watched as they all scampered off to the cafe, their shrill, excited voices the only sound in the silent street.
She sighed and pushed open the gate. Walking up the cement path to the front door, she remembered the many times she had played truant from her piano lessons to have tea and koeksisters with Aunt Ellen. With no family of her own she was 'Aunt Ellen' to all who knew and loved her.
The door was opened by a plump, grey-haired woman with gentle blue eyes that stared at her rather blankly for a moment.
"Hello, Aunt Ellen."
"Jacky!" the woman exclaimed as recognition dawned. "Why have you taken so long to come and visit?"
Jacqueline was enveloped in a bear hug and promptly taken through to the kitchen which was apparently still Aunt Ellen's favourite room in the house.
"Goodness, but you have changed," Aunt Ellen said as she stood taking in Jacqueline's appearance. "The last time I saw you was with your dear father's funeral, and you'd only just grown out of your pigtails and black school stockings."
Jacqueline laughed happily and seated herself at the table while Aunt Ellen switched on the kettle before she too sat down.
Jacqueline's thoughts shifted to the house across the street and she frowned slightly.
"Aunt Ellen, there's something I've wanted to ask you for a long time now. You're a very wealthy woman, so why do you live here in this district?"
The older woman smiled gently, and a faraway look appeared in her eyes.
"Jacky, I was born in this district. I grew up in these same dusty streets. I was fortunate to marry a rich man and during the few years we had together I was extremely happy. When my husband died leaving me a wealthy widow, I returned here to this side of town and decided to spend my time helping these unfortunate people."
"But couldn't you have done the same if you lived elsewhere?" Jacqueline asked quickly.
"No, my dear. To help these people I had to be close at hand. I have to know the conditions they live in, and most important of all, I have to know them. I couldn't do what I've set out to do while living in luxury up there on the hill."
"I suppose you're right," Jacqueline agreed.
"I know I am. Now, tell me about yourself," she urged as they faced each other across the well scrubbed table. "What have you been doing all this time, and how do you like the hospital, and ... Oh, just tell me everything."
Jacqueline obediently started recounting the events since her arrival in Barryvale. Aun
t Ellen was a wonderful listener and without much effort everything just came tumbling out.
"I can't understand why you don't get on with Meldon," she remarked. "I know he can be difficult at times, but on the whole he's a very pleasant fellow."
"I find him extremely difficult to understand," Jacqueline sighed. "Our entire association has been pockmarked with incidents that have both puzzled and infuriated me. I never seem able to please him, yet at the most unexpected times he'll compliment me on my work."
East of Barryvale Page 7