Page 102 of A Helpin g Hand for the Village Nurse

‘Call me if you have any problems. I’ll do my best to get up here as soon as I can. Have you heard from the mental health team I put you in touch with yet?’

‘Not yet.’

‘OK, I’ll chase that up.’

‘Would you like a cup of tea before you go?’

‘I’d better get down to work, thanks.’

Ottilie packed her things away. ‘Bye, Darryl.’

He didn’t look up from his book, and she smiled. The first happy customer of the day. And then she looked at his poor mother and remembered – not for the first time – that no matter how much bad luck she felt she’d had in her life, there were many others worse off. Perhaps she ought to try harder to appreciate the good things she did have. Starting with Geoff’s party.

CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

‘Morning…’ Ottilie tried not to frown as she reached the front door of Thimblebury surgery, ready to start work, to find Flo standing by it. ‘Are we meant to see you this morning…?’

Flo gave a mute nod, and it was then that Ottilie noticed her trembling.

‘Oh, Flo!’ she cried. ‘What’s wrong? Come inside…’

Despite Ottilie trying to usher her in, and despite her obvious distress, Flo shook her head.

‘I don’t want anyone to know,’ she whispered.

‘Know what? Flo, what’s happened?’

‘Can you come and sit with me a while?’

‘I can’t…’ Ottilie hesitated. ‘You know I’d always say yes if I could, but I have a clinic full of patients this morning. You don’t seem well – let me get Dr Cheadle to have a look at?—’

‘No!’ Flo’s eyes widened. ‘She’d think I was silly.’

‘Then how can I help? At least give me a clue. Is it a medical thing? Or is it something else? I can’t help until you tell me what you need.’

‘It’s her,’ Flo said, in a voice so small that Ottilie could hardly tell what she’d said.

‘Who?’

‘Her…’ Flo’s voice was louder now, her tone accusing. ‘That woman. Heath’s woman…Don’t make me say the name.’

‘His ex-wife?’

Flo nodded.

‘What’s she done?’

‘She needs money, doesn’t she? She always needs money.’

‘And she’s tried to get it from you?’

Flo nodded. ‘I have a bit. She knows I have a bit put away. Last time Heath sorted it.’

‘Flo…’ Ottilie paused. ‘You haven’t given her anything, have you?’

‘No, but she said…’

‘Said what? Has she been to your house?’

---