New Doctor at the Windmill Practice (Pepper Bay #16)

1

Stefan

Dr Stefan Bedford’s name was on a piece of paper stuck to the door of the cottage that was part of the large windmill he knew to be the practice, which was quite a sight to see and rather amusing to say the least. He’d worked in some swish medical clinics before but never one quite so unique.

The windmill could wait, as his car needed unloading, he was gasping for a cup of tea, and his nine-year-old daughter, Lindy, was calling out for the bathroom.

After a slight jiggle and wiggle with the door key, Stefan managed to shove the old wooden door of the cottage open, and Lindy bounced straight inside. Her long blonde ponytail swishing from side to side as she passed. A waft of lavender filled his nostrils as he entered the hallway, which looked a lot bigger than expected. A floorboard creaked as he stepped forward to lower a suitcase by the narrow stairway. It was quite muggy inside, as the warm June air sat trapped by lack of ventilation.

Keeping the door wide open, he went out to his royal-blue hatchback to unload the rest of their belongings and the birdcage for their pet budgie, Zeus.

‘Well, buddy, what do you think?’ He took the bird’s travel carrier and cage straight through to the kitchen, surprised to see the room looking so modern, as he was sure it would scream all things rustic to match the quaint exterior.

Stefan placed the birdcage on the white table and put Zeus inside, smiling as the bird ruffled his feathers, looking pleased to be back in his cage.

Going to the hallway, a rectangular mirror had Stefan stop and lift his glasses to check the dark circles beneath his leaf-green eyes. He really needed to sleep better. Hopefully, now on the Isle of Wight, he might get in a full night’s kip.

‘Thirty-eight and what a state,’ he mumbled, shaking his head. Sighing, he made his way back out into the sunshine to lock his car and take one more look around at his new home.

Had someone told him this time last year that he’d leave his job in London to relocate south to some place called Pepper Bay, he would have laughed.

His life didn’t seem funny, but at least his surroundings looked peaceful, and Lindy seemed happier, which was all that mattered.

Coming over on the ferry, he had agreed with himself that he wouldn’t keep living in the past. It wasn’t doing him any good, and with a new practice to run, it was high time he raised his chin, took a deep breath, and just got on with the life he now had. After all, there was little else he could do. His daughter needed a new beginning. This was for her. Not him.

Stefan glanced at the windmill. He wasn’t due to open till the next morning, but he was itching to take a peek at the surgery.

He went back in the cottage to find the office, pleased the keys to the surgery were exactly where the previous doctor had said they would be, along with a welcome card from all staff members.

‘Hey, Lind, I’m just going to check out the surgery. Go pick a bedroom when you’re done.’

Her small voice called out from the downstairs toilet. ‘Will do, Dad.’

As he walked across to the windmill, he wondered if Dr Tully would pop in tomorrow to see how he was settling in. He hadn’t met him properly yet, especially as the older doctor couldn’t get to grips with video chat and the screen kept cutting off on the rare attempts Stefan had suggested they talk that way.

A light refreshing breeze blew back his dark hair, making him smile at the simplicity of something so warm and gentle having the ability to calm his weary soul.

As he entered the windmill, he tried to think back to see if he could remember ever being in a round room before. Nothing came to mind as he perused the area, which also smelled of lavender.

There was a reception desk with an adjoining office, a toilet, two examination rooms, and a waiting area. Not much else was needed for such a small community. He did wonder why someone thought it a good idea to paint bright wide stripes around the wall by the entrance. It was cheerful, but still, a tad children’s ward.

Something creaked upstairs, and a shiver ran the length of his spine, making him chuckle to himself at the eerie feeling that had crept over him.

Old building. Lots of groans .

He was way too logical for any paranormal nonsense.

‘Hello, Dr Tully, you there?’ called a female voice from outside, startling Stefan.

He stepped out into the sun to see an elderly woman approaching with an old, black-and-grey dog. ‘Can I help?’

She brushed back her wispy faded-blonde hair as she gave him the once over. ‘Who are you?’

‘Dr Bedford.’

‘Oh, you’re the new kid.’ She didn’t seem best pleased about that. ‘Well, you’ll have to do. Look.’

He followed her wagging finger down to the shaggy dog. ‘What am I looking at?’

‘It’s our Scruff. He just started limping.’ She punched her hands onto her hips. ‘I can’t have anything happen to our family’s dog. My great-grandchildren will be devastated.’

Stefan nodded. He too was an animal lover and knew all too well how upsetting a pet’s death was. ‘Yes, best take him to a vet.’

She waved off the comment. ‘Have you seen how much they charge?’

He knew but gave a slight head shuffle, as he wasn’t expecting that response.

‘You’re NHS, right, Doc?’

‘Yes.’

‘Come and have a look then. I paid in all my life. I’m entitled to get some help.’

‘And I can help you. Just not your dog.’

‘What kind of doctor are you?’

‘One for humans.’

‘Well, what’s that got to do with the price of fish, eh?’

Stefan felt a little bewildered. ‘Erm, it means I’m not a vet.’

‘Don’t you lot take an oath or something to help those in need?’

He went to speak, but she wasn’t finished.

‘Dr Tully would have looked by now.’

Stefan silently sighed. He guessed it wouldn’t hurt to check the dog. Then he could tell her to go to the vets, and she might listen. He crouched down, hoping Scruff was as friendly as he looked.

Scruff didn’t seem too bothered, but he did lift his paw as if to help move the matter along.

Stefan slid his hand along the leg, then peered under the pad. ‘Ah, I see a thorn.’ Carefully, he pulled it out and got a lick from Scruff, which he took as a thank you.

‘See. NHS. Can’t beat it,’ said the elderly lady.

Stefan stood. ‘Yes, but I’m still not a vet.’

‘Did okay though, didn’t you?’

Stefan closed his mouth.

‘Welcome to Pepper Bay,’ she said, strolling away with her dog. ‘I’m Josephine Walker. Call in at Pepper Pot Farm anytime you want some cheese.’

My reward is cheese?

He laughed as he went back inside the windmill and placed the thorn in the bin by the desk. Maybe his new job wouldn’t be so bad after all.

‘Coo-ee,’ someone called, and just for a moment Stefan thought Josephine was back.

He poked his head outside to see another elderly woman approaching. Wasn’t anyone told the surgery was closed today? He had no idea, seeing how he hadn’t received a welcome party. A pity party for one was about as close as he came to a celebration.

‘Hello,’ he said, giving a small wave.

‘Do you need a hand?’ she asked, slightly breathless as she came to a halt in front of him.

Stefan looked at the windmill, then back at her. ‘Erm… I was just locking up.’

‘I knew we weren’t open today, but then I saw you up here as I was passing and thought maybe I’d got it wrong.’

‘I was just seeing what’s what, but I’m off home now to settle in.’

A hand came his way. ‘I’m Rose. Your receptionist.’

Maybe he needed new glasses, because he was sure she looked over seventy. Surely she would have retired by now. Obviously not. He adjusted his thin-rimmed frames and pulled in his lips.

‘Me and my grandson, Merlin, both are,’ she added, flashing perfect white teeth.

He followed her fingers as they brushed back her long grey hair. ‘Right. So, erm, you’ll both be here tomorrow?’

‘Yep, got your schedule all sorted.’ She tapped his arm, then handed over the small basket she was carrying. ‘You’ll be all right with me, Dr Bedford. I’ve been doing this job since I left school.’

Stefan glanced at the red gingham cloth hiding the contents of the basket. ‘Has this windmill always been a surgery?’

Rose chuckled. ‘No. It was a windmill, but one of the brothers who lived here became a doctor, and folk from all over the island would come see him with their problems. Over the years, it kind of stuck. Now it’s officially the Windmill Practice. Been in Dr Tully’s family for years.’

It was nice to have a bit of backstory on the old building that looked to be in good shape.

‘Even has a ghost,’ she added, smiling.

Stefan raised his brow. ‘A ghost?’

‘Yeah. It’s only Agatha. Bless her. Dr Tully’s aunt. She lived here during the Second World War. Story says, she was waiting for her sweetheart to return from the war, but she died just after he died in battle. But she didn’t know that he was already dead, because she hadn’t received the news. So, here she stays, in limbo, forever waiting for her one true love to come home so they can be wed. Aww.’

‘Why is she haunting the windmill and not the cottage?’

‘Rumour has it, it’s where they shared their first kiss.’ Rose sighed. ‘Romantic, isn’t it?’

‘Not sure having ghosts floating around is romantic.’

‘It’s only one, and she does no harm. You might just hear her once in a while.’

Stefan glanced over his shoulder as he was sure he felt a presence. ‘She speaks to you?’

Why am I even entertaining this conversation? This is ridiculous .

‘Cries,’ said Rose.

Stefan had had enough of tall tales and lost loves. ‘Right, well, best get on.’

Rose grinned at him. ‘Yep, I’ll leave you to it.’

He glanced once more at the basket. ‘Erm, by the way, what do we have here?’

‘Some goodies as a welcome. I was just at the shops buying some bits for you.’ She went to walk away. ‘See you bright and early, Doc. We’ve got a full day for you. In fact, you can count on being extra busy for the rest of the month.’

‘Oh, why’s that?’

‘Because you’re the new doctor, and everyone will want to meet you.’ She said it as though he should have known.

‘Surely they’ll meet me as and when they need an appointment.’

Rose let out a croaky chuckle. ‘Doesn’t work that way around here.’

‘Well, I won’t be seeing anyone unless they have an appointment and they need help.’

Rose nodded, then went home, and Stefan got the feeling life at the Windmill Practice might be a tad different to anywhere he’d worked before.

He was about to enter his cottage when another voice called out, this one belonging to a man in his fifties.

‘You the new doc?’

‘Yes, hello.’

‘Great. Take a look at this.’

Stefan went to refuse, but the man whipped off his top and pointed out a dark mole under his armpit.

‘Dr Tully said it was nothing, but I want a fresh set of eyes.’ He frowned at Stefan’s gold-framed glasses. ‘Can you see with those things?’

‘Oddly enough, that’s what they’re for.’

‘Well, what do you think, Doc? Is it bad?’

Stefan mentally shook his head. ‘You need to make an appointment.’

‘But you’re right here.’

‘Yes, but I’m not at work.’

The man frowned. ‘You’re a doctor. You’re always on duty.’

‘I don’t have your medical records.’

‘You don’t need them to tell me if my mole looks dodgy.’

Stefan tried to silence his sigh. He leaned closer for a look. ‘Has it bled, been itchy, or grown or shrunk recently?’

‘None of the above.’

Stefan straightened. ‘Then why are you concerned?’

‘It might look darker.’

‘Right. What I’ll do is send you to see a dermatologist, but you have to make an appointment with me first.’

‘Right you are then. I’ll pop in and see Rose in the morning.’

‘Good. I’ll see you soon.’

The man raised one arm as he walked away.

Stefan waited to see if the man left before closing the cottage door. He peered up the stairs. ‘Lindy, you up there?’

‘I’m unpacking my things,’ she replied.

He smiled to himself as he went to the kitchen to check out his basket of goodies, but a knock on the back door made him jump away from the table.

‘You in there, Doc?’

Stefan opened the door to see an elderly woman and a teenage girl. The girl had blood dripping down her leg.

‘Daisy here fell and scraped her knee.’

‘I’m all right, Nana Blackcurrant,’ said Daisy. ‘I can clean this at home.’

‘But you were closer to here.’

Stefan opened the door wider. ‘Please, come inside.’

‘Ooh, I like your bird,’ said Daisy, sitting by the table.

‘His name is Zeus.’

Daisy waggled a finger close to the cage, and Zeus came over to investigate. ‘Hello, Zeus.’

‘May I use the loo?’ asked the elderly woman.

Stefan tried to remember which door it was behind. ‘Yes, it’s, erm…’

‘I know where it is.’ She toddled off to the hallway.

Daisy sighed at her knee. ‘I really could have sorted this back home.’

‘Best to listen to your grandmother.’

‘Oh, she’s not my gran. Everyone just calls her Nana Blackcurrant.’

Stefan pulled out a first-aid bag. ‘Right.’

‘Thank you.’

‘You’re welcome.’ And in no time at all, he had Daisy cleaned up and wearing a plaster.

‘Hello,’ said Lindy, her pale-blue eyes smiling at Daisy.

‘This is my daughter, Lindy,’ said Stefan, waving her closer. ‘Lindy, this is Daisy.’

Lindy peered at the teenager’s leg. ‘Ooh, you cut yourself?’

Daisy shook her head. ‘It’s okay. Just a scratch. Your dad cleaned it for me.’

‘He’s a good doctor.’ Lindy beamed at him, making his heart warm.

‘I see you’ve got your bags in the hallway,’ said Nana Blackcurrant on her return. ‘Do you need any help unpacking?’ Her eyes widened on seeing the girl. ‘Ooh, hello, and who have we got here?’

‘I’m Lindy. I’m nine.’

‘You can call me Nana Blackcurrant. Everyone does.’

Lindy smiled, and Stefan was pleased she looked so relaxed with the strangers.

‘I don’t have a nana,’ she told the elderly woman. ‘It’s just me and Dad. Our family is small.’

Daisy smiled at her. ‘You can have some of mine if you like, Lindy. There are a few of us up at my farm.’

Lindy’s eyes sparkled. ‘Farm? Do you have animals?’

‘Cows,’ replied Daisy. ‘And you can come see them whenever you like.’ She gestured at the door. ‘We’re not far. Pepper Pot Farm.’

Stefan remembered the woman with the dog. ‘I think I met your grandmother earlier walking her dog, Scruff.’

Daisy gave a small nod. ‘That’ll be Josephine. She’s my great-gran. Lives with us at our farm.’ She glanced at Nana Blackcurrant. ‘Do you reckon she read his palm?’

Nana Blackcurrant chuckled. ‘Knowing her.’

‘She just needed some help with her dog.’

Daisy lost her smile at once. ‘What was wrong with Scruff?’

‘He’s okay. He just had a thorn in his paw, but I removed it, and he stopped limping.’

‘Told you my dad is a good doctor.’ Lindy snuggled into his side.

Daisy got up. ‘Well, thank you so much for helping, both me and my dog.’

Stefan smiled, following them to the hallway. ‘You’re welcome.’

Nana Blackcurrant glanced at the luggage. ‘Would you like some help?’

‘That’s very kind, but we’ll be fine, thank you.’ He was hoping they would just leave.

Daisy got the message. ‘Come on, let’s leave them to it.’

He opened the front door and waved them off. Was it at all possible he’d get five minutes to settle in now?

‘They were nice, eh, Dad?’

‘Yes. Looks as though we’ve made some friends already.’

‘Can we make some lunch?’

He nodded, making his way back to the kitchen, where Zeus fluffed his feathers.

‘Let’s see what’s in this basket my new receptionist gifted me. Might be something we can add to our sandwiches. What do you think, Lind?’

‘Ooh, let’s see.’ She kneeled on a chair to peer over the basket.

Cheese, more cheese, and a small bottle of elderberry juice that looked homemade, and on opening held a suspicious whiff of wine. He moved that away from Lindy.

‘I’ll wash my hands and get the bread out. Looks like we’re having cheese sarnies, Dad.’

Stefan flopped to a chair and inhaled deeply, watching his child at the sink. He really was in no mood for cheese, but she started to hum, which cheered him no end, so he unwrapped the food and got up to find some cutlery, as he had been assured the home came fully furnished and stocked with all basic needs. He wouldn’t have sold his home contents otherwise.

‘So, what do you think so far, Lindy?’ He smiled as she glanced over her shoulder. ‘We have cheese and a windmill.’

Lindy giggled, and all was right in the world once more.