3
Stefan
With the agreement that Lindy could do her schoolwork in the other examination room at the practice, Stefan got into his work with ease, especially with Dr Tully there for a couple of hours that morning, helping Stefan find his feet. It wasn’t until lunchtime that things changed.
‘You’ve got two house calls, then back here till five,’ said Rose, peering over her dark glasses at the monitor on her desk.
Stefan raised his brow. ‘I’m sorry, what?’
‘House calls,’ repeated Rose.
‘I don’t do house calls.’
Rose frowned. ‘Since when?’
‘Since… Well, I’ve never had to do one.’
‘They don’t do house calls in London?’
He gave a slight nod. ‘It depends on the circumstances. Are they housebound?’
Rose narrowed her beady dark eyes. ‘I didn’t ask about their circumstances. Never had to with Dr Tully, but you’re expected now. It’s arranged.’
Sighing inwardly, he gave another slight nod. ‘Well, if it’s arranged I’ll go, but in future, check with me first. I might be able to offer alternatives.’
‘Folk won’t appreciate that kind of service around here. Not what they’re used to. Dr Tully was quite laid-back in his routine. Seemed to suit everyone. Never had complaints, and we have a nicely run system here. One doctor, two nurses. Quiet and small, especially since they built that fancy clinic over in Sandly. Just expected us all to join. Well, some can’t go all that way, but many did. Got it all over there, see.’
‘I’m sure, but I’ll prefer to run the practice my way now, Rose.’
She went back to staring at the screen. ‘Shall I write down their addresses?’
‘I guess so. Erm, I take it they’re not far?’
‘No, one right here in Pepper Bay, and one in Sandly, as some of your patients live there.’
Stefan frowned. ‘Why don’t they see the doctors over there at the new clinic?’
‘Ah, you know, not everyone wants to change surgeries. Besides, Sandly used to come under our catchment, and so many loved Dr Tully. Merlin calls him an island legend.’
‘He is,’ said Merlin, trotting down the stairs, his long dark hair flapping behind him.
‘Dr Tully never mentioned that.’
Rose handed Stefan a yellow sticky note with two addresses scribbled down. ‘Don’t be offended if patients sign up at the new clinic now you’re here. I think Dr Tully was all that kept them here. He’s the last in his bloodline to be a doctor at the windmill.’
Stefan had to wonder if patients would leave. ‘I’ll just grab my bag and fetch Lindy.’
‘I don’t mind watching her.’
As kind as her offer was, it was for the best if Lindy stayed close to him for now. She had no school to go to, and he wasn’t sure if she wanted to give the local one a try. He wasn’t sure she could be home-schooled forever, and Lindy being at the practice wasn’t practical. Maybe Dr Tully would consider hanging around for a couple more weeks whilst he organised another online teacher and childminder. The setup had worked quite well the past six months in London. Shame the teacher retired. He needed to speak to Lindy.
He decided to broach the subject on the drive over to Sandly, as that address had the first appointment.
‘I know what you’re going to say, Dad.’
Stefan glanced in the rear-view mirror at his daughter, smiling to himself at how much she looked like her late mother. Belinda would be so proud of how smart Lindy was. ‘What am I going to say, hmm?’
‘You have that look in your eye every time you stare at me.’
‘I’m not staring at you. I’m checking the back window.’
‘Just say it, Dad.’
He took a calming breath and relaxed his posture, feeling his back ache already from stress. ‘We need to talk about school, Lind. You had any more thoughts?’
‘I want to stay in the cottage.’
‘So another private teacher? If I get online support for you, you’ll have to have a sitter like before. Is that what you’d prefer?’
Lindy nodded, and Stefan pulled over onto a grassy verge out of the way of traffic.
‘Which one, Lindy, home teacher or online?’
‘Online, if we can get a nice childminder.’
Stefan reached back a hand to hold hers as he smiled. ‘I’m sure we can find someone as lovely as Sunita.’
‘I miss her, but I still feel better being here.’
‘Yeah, we made the right decision, didn’t we?’ It was good to see her rosy cheeks. A sure sign she was doing well.
‘Zeus likes it here already.’
Stefan smiled. ‘He does, and it’s only been one day. Just think how much he’ll like it here by the end of the week.’
Lindy giggled.
‘Right, shall we head off? We’ve got a Mrs Sparkle waiting for us.’ He gestured to the road and waited for her to give him the thumbs-up sign, which she did.
It was nice driving along the country lanes. The roads were pretty quiet, and it didn’t take long to get to Sandly.
Stefan helped Lindy out the car, and she immediately jogged over to the house to knock on the door.
A woman in her eighties, with bright beady blue eyes and drawn-on eyebrows opened the door to peer down at the girl on her doorstep.
Straight away, Lindy noticed the cat sprawled in the woman’s arms. ‘Ooh, a cat. Can I pet him?’
‘ Her , and yes, of course. She likes children.’
Stefan approached, bag in hand. ‘Hello, I’m Dr Bedford, and this is my daughter, Lindy. Mrs Sparkle, I presume?’
The elderly lady giggled. ‘I’m Nora.’ She raised her cat. ‘This is Sparkle.’
Lindy gave the moggy a scratch behind the ear, making the cat purr. ‘Hello, Sparkle.’
Stefan checked the note Rose had given him. It definitely said Sparkle. ‘Erm…’
‘Come in. Come in. How rude of me keeping you on the doorstep.’ Nora led them to her living room. ‘Please sit. Would you like some tea, Doctor?’ Before he could reply, she turned to Lindy. ‘Got some ice-poles in the freezer. Would you like one?’
‘Yes, please.’ Lindy glanced at her dad. ‘May I, Dad?’
‘Okay.’ He followed them through to a narrow white kitchen. ‘I hope you don’t mind me bringing my daughter. She can sit in the other room while we talk. It’s just we haven’t had time to sort childminders yet, and…’ He trailed off, not wanting to add much else.
Nora scoffed. ‘Course I don’t mind, and look…’ She pointed at Sparkle curling around Lindy’s legs. ‘I think your daughter might have just cured my fur-baby.’
He raised his brow. ‘Oh, is she sick?’
Nora shrugged. ‘Been off her salmon. That’s why I made the appointment with you. Well, not you, Dr Tully, but I didn’t know he was retiring the moment you stepped off the ferry.’
Stefan frowned as he watched Lindy rummage around in the freezer. ‘Erm, I’m sorry, I’m a little lost. Are you telling me you made an appointment for your cat?’
Nora gave him a look that said he should have known that.
It took a moment for Stefan’s mouth to stop flapping.
‘Also for my bunions,’ added Nora, tipping up one slipper-covered foot. ‘But Ronnie Hadley gave me some of his onions, and I seem to be doing all right now.’
Stefan stared at her foot. ‘Onions?’
‘Ooh,’ screeched Nora, heading for a cupboard. ‘See if you can get Sparkle to eat some salmon, Lindy.’ She pulled down a tin and opened it to scoop into a small pink dish.
Lindy happily obliged, and Sparkle snaffled the lot.
Nora was ever so impressed. ‘You, young lady, are officially Sparkle’s new doctor.’
Stefan had to say something. ‘I think a vet would be more useful.’
Nora waved a hand as though dismissing him. ‘Sparkle loves her Dr Tully. Cheers her up no end.’
‘I’m sure, but—’
‘Come on, lovely. You can eat your lolly in your dad’s car.’
I guess that’s her way of telling us to leave .
He glanced at the elderly woman once more, totally gobsmacked by the whole situation. First he’s pulling thorns out of paws, and now he’s on house calls for fussy cats.
‘Bye, Sparkle,’ said Lindy, heading for the door. ‘See you soon.’
‘You come by anytime,’ said Nora, waving them off.
Stefan turned on the pathway to speak, but Nora closed the door, leaving his mouth gaping once more. ‘Of all the cheek!’ he muttered.
‘Who is next, Dad?’
He opened the car whilst shaking his head. ‘Hopefully a human patient,’ he mumbled to himself, checking his note.
‘Can I have the window open?’
‘Sure, but keep your arm inside.’ He typed the postcode into his satnav for his next house call, then set off along more country lanes.
Lindy gasped, making him jump. ‘Dad, Dad, look.’ Her finger stabbed out the window. ‘Something’s wrong.’
He looked over at the field by a church to see a woman with bright red hair running towards a fire engine, hands flailing in the air, people gathering close by.
‘They might need help, Dad.’
He knew, so pulled into the car park by the church and jumped out, Lindy close behind. ‘Stay by the car, Lindy.’ She huffed, but he headed off to the field.
A firefighter was hunched over a brick-built well, along with the red-headed woman and a man dressed as a groom.
‘What’s happened?’ asked Stefan, approaching. ‘I’m a doctor. I might be able to help.’
The firefighter turned his way. ‘Oh, you the new doc? Bedford, right?’
Stefan nodded, peering into the dark well. ‘Yes. Stefan Bedford.’
The firefighter shoved out a hand. ‘Finn Silver. Everyone’s talking about you.’
Stefan shook his hand. ‘Shouldn’t we be talking about what’s happened here?’
The woman grabbed his arm, concern in her eyes. ‘It’s Nessa. She’s fallen down the well.’
‘Good God!’ Stefan was back at the wall, peering down. ‘Hello,’ he called, hearing his echo. ‘Nessa, can you hear me?’
Finn chuckled, then stopped when the woman scowled his way. ‘Sorry, Ruby.’
‘It’s not funny, Finn,’ snapped Ruby. ‘They’re not my doves.’ She turned to Stefan. ‘Carla only went and booked herself a holiday during Julie and Christopher’s wedding. What was I supposed to do but say yes when asked to step in. She assured me they’d take to the sky, then come straight back to their little cage thingy. But, oh no, not Nessa. She dive bombs the flipping well.’
It took Stefan a moment to absorb her story. Squinting slightly from the sun, he pointed at the well. ‘I’m sorry, what’s down there?’
‘A dove,’ answered Finn.
‘We were having photographs with them,’ said the groom, looking as worried as Ruby.
Ruby lightly patted his arm. ‘You go back to your bride, Christopher. We’ll sort this. Go on. You’ve got a wedding day to complete. I’ll see you later at the reception.’
‘Okay.’ Christopher nodded, then went back to the church, where onlookers gathered waiting on news of the wayward dove.
Stefan’s heart rate accelerated. ‘Have you people not got any vets around here?’
Finn and Ruby’s eyes widened at his agitated tone.
‘Of course we have,’ said Ruby, looking him up and down. ‘What’s that got to do with anything?’
Stefan took a moment to compose himself, as he was still annoyed at being called out to see a cat. It was wrong of him to snap. After all, he was the one who had decided to race to the well. He tipped his head and forced a smile. ‘If I’m not needed, I’ll be off.’
Ruby huffed. ‘I thought you’re supposed to be a doctor.’
‘I am.’
‘But you don’t want to stick around to see if that little bird is harmed?’
Stefan frowned. If it were Zeus down there, he would want the fire brigade to lower a ladder and save him, but there was actual medical work to be done involving humans.
‘Leave him be, Ruby,’ said Finn, glancing once more down the well. ‘You go about your day, Doc. We’ve got this.’
Now Stefan felt bad, and he couldn’t stop thinking about Zeus. How would he encourage his own pet out of the well? ‘Do you have any of their feed?’ he asked Ruby. ‘You could try putting some along the wall.’
Finn shrugged at Ruby. ‘Might help.’
She pushed her hand into the pocket on her dress as she nodded. ‘I was told to keep some close by in case Nessa felt like being naughty. Plays up, see.’
Stefan leaned over the wall and started to whistle. He had no idea which bird made which sound, but Zeus always joined in with his tunes.
A faint cooing sound drifted upward, followed by a flutter, then from out of the darkness came the dove, soaring up into the sky.
‘Ooh, you get back here, little pest,’ yelled Ruby, running in circles across the field.
Finn grinned at the doctor. ‘Guess Nessa likes you, Doc. Well done.’
Stefan felt a tad impressed with himself, but the well had his attention. ‘This shouldn’t be open. A child could fall down there.’
‘It’s not normally. And it will be covered again.’
‘That would be good.’ Stefan could see the smile still sitting in Finn’s dark-brown eyes. Ever since he’d arrived on the island he wasn’t sure if people were mocking him. Maybe they liked to have a laugh with outsiders. ‘Right, well, now I know the bird is safe, I’ll be off. Nice to have met you.’
Finn tapped a finger on his forehead in a tiny salute. ‘See you around, Doc. My family live up at Silver Wish Farm. Drop by anytime.’
‘Oh, erm, yes, thank you.’ Stefan trudged back to the car to let Lindy know all about the rogue dove, still teasing Ruby, by the look of things.
Lindy found the situation highly enjoyable and told her dad she was going to write a story about the bird when she got home.
Home. Stefan wished they could just return to the cosy cottage, but no. One more house call, then back to the surgery, where he was going to have a stern talk with Rose about Nora’s appointment.
‘One last call, then you can finish your schoolwork,’ he said, driving along.
‘I like these trips out more.’
It certainly had been an eventful afternoon, at least they were closer to the windmill now, which did make him wonder why the patient couldn’t come into the practice. He figured they must be housebound in some way.
He smiled as Lindy started to quietly sing a song about birds, attempting to whistle in between made-up lyrics.
They pulled up at a row of three joined cottages, and Stefan was pleased to find his next patient was actually human. An elderly man in his nineties with a nasty cough. Stefan spoke quietly with the care worker about the gentleman and discovered the wheels were already in motion for Mr Kimble to be transferred to the Wilson-Holmes Retirement Village.
Turning his face to the sunrays as he stepped outside, Stefan took a moment to remember why he loved his job. Helping people always sparked such joy, and now he needed to get back to the surgery, put some new procedures in place, and settle his daughter back into a routine.
Even with the small hiccups, it hadn’t been a bad first day on the job, and word had certainly spread about him, which was a bit of a novelty. Oh well, at least everyone seemed friendly enough.