Page 21 of A Helpin g Hand for the Village Nurse

Ottilie was about to end the call when she caught his heavy sigh.

One more chance, she supposed – everyone deserved one more chance to prove they weren’t a total arse.

‘I’m sorry,’ he said. ‘It’s no excuse, but I’ve had a hell of a week and this was the icing on the cake. Just so you know, I don’t make a habit of this sort of thing. Quite honestly, I didn’t realise how late it was. I’ve been stewing on what she said and I needed to hear more detail and…’

‘I get it. I understand why you might worry about her, and being so far away it’s not so easy to pop over and check in on her. If it helps ease your mind, I really don’t think you need to worry – not for her physical well-being in any case.’

‘But I ought to worry about her mental state? I don’t get it; she’s always been so…well, tough. Nothing gets to her.’

‘Perhaps emotional well-being covers it better than mental state. And as for her being tough, even the strongest of us sometimes needs someone to lean on, right?’

‘Right…I guess…I’m sorry to have bothered you.’

‘Forget it. Don’t get angry with your grandmother, will you?’

‘Of course not. I could never do that; she means too much to me. And you’re right, I’ve probably been neglecting her. Actually, definitely been neglecting her. Like she told you, things have been complicated in my life, and people who matter have taken second place. But I’m working hard to change that.’

‘Again, it’s not my place to comment.’

‘No, I hear you. No comment, as any good newspaper journalist will tell you, is telling enough. I’ll let you get back to your evening.’

‘I—’

Before Ottilie could say anything else, he’d ended the call.

Well, that was… interesting.

As she went back to her skincare and highlights of the conversation began to drift through her mind, she wondered if she’d been too harsh. Clearly his ill-timed and brusque phone call had come from a place of worry. Had she come across as judgy and sanctimonious? Had she been unfair? If she’d been given the same information by a loved one, she might have reacted in exactly the same way. But even as she went over it, she wondered why it mattered anyway. She didn’t know him and he didn’t know her, and perhaps they’d meet at some point during one of his visits to Flo, but it was hardly going to be an encounter that would make any difference to her life.

She did, however, wonder if she ought to check in on Florence. Her new friend struck her as far more astute than to be under the erroneous impression that she was about to fall off her perch, and judging by what Fliss had said, that was hardly likely to be a threat for the foreseeable future. But something was wrong – why else would she have told her grandson that? She seemed indomitable, but Ottilie knew only too well how people with hidden pain often went to great lengths to keep it hidden. And if there was something wrong, if there was something troubling Flo, Ottilie wanted to help. Even if she couldn’t do anything practical, at least Flo would know someone was there for her.

As she flicked her phone to silent mode and slid into bed, she made a plan of action. First stop tomorrow was Flo’s house.

CHAPTER SEVEN

Ottilie’s planned visit to Florence’s house got waylaid but in the nicest possible way – at least, it had started out that way. At the village store-cum-post office, as she was asking Magnus which cottage belonged to Florence, Victor came to pay his newspaper bill. Apparently, Thimblebury’s shop-cum-post office was also their newsagent. Ottilie wondered what else they sold – she wouldn’t have been surprised to find a fashion boutique in the back room.

‘Nurse!’ He smiled broadly as she turned to see him walk in.

‘Ottilie,’ she reminded him. ‘Call me Ottilie.’

‘Ah yes, knew it was something a bit funny. How are you settling in?’

‘Great,’ Ottilie said, ignoring the observation on her name. It was unusual, she supposed, and it wouldn’t be the first time someone had said what Victor had just said about it. ‘Slowly but surely I’m getting my bearings. Thought I might have a walk around the area today, take in a bit of the scenery, you know. If I’m living in such a beautiful place I might as well make the most of it.’

‘True enough that tourists pay a pretty penny to come and see it.’ Victor rubbed at his neck as if he was suddenly struck by a bout of shyness. ‘I suppose we take it for granted living here and seeing it all the time. If you’re at a loose end…Ah, I’m sure you’re too busy.’

‘For what? Do you need help with something? I haven’t started work yet but I’m happy enough to offer a bit of neighbourly advice if something is bothering you.’

‘Not me…the missus. She’s got this thing…Well, she says it’s a rash, but…’

Ottilie glanced and saw Magnus raise his eyebrows. She had been warned by Fliss that this might happen, but really, she didn’t mind. Even Victor had joked about it the day they’d first met. But as a new arrival into Thimblebury, whatever she could do to endear herself to the locals was a bonus as far as she was concerned.

‘I mean,’ Victor continued, ‘if you’re not too busy and you don’t mind. Happen it’s nothing but she’s a bit of a worrier, so…’

‘I’d be more than happy to look. I can come up to the farm now if you like.’

‘Could you? That would be grand! I’m going straight back up after I’m done here so you could hop in the Land Rover with me if you like.’

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