Page 26 of A Helpin g Hand for the Village Nurse

‘They’re sweethearts, aren’t they? Soft as old cushions and daft as brushes the lot of them.’

‘Oh, I’m in love with them. Victor says I can adopt them if I like, save him the job of mucking out their sheds every day.’

‘He says that, but he’d never part with them – like pets to him they are.’ Corrine smiled at Victor. ‘Isn’t that right?’

‘No,’ he said but was holding back a grin as he sat at the table and reached for the teapot, giving it a rub before clearly deciding it was warm enough to drink whatever was in there and pouring some out into a cup that was still standing on the table from earlier.

‘Let me make a fresh pot,’ Corrine said, taking it from him and picking up the cups. ‘Haven’t had a minute to clear all this away since you went out – been stripping the beds.’

‘That’s all right,’ Ottilie said. ‘If it’s all the same to you, though I’d love to stay a while longer, I really do need to go and see Florence. Perhaps I’ll get a cup of tea another time? I can take a quick look at your little problem and then I’ll be on my way, if that’s all right.’

‘Aww…’ Corrine flapped and fussed and seemed not to know what to do with herself as she came over to Ottilie and flashed a section of neck by pulling her collar out of the way so briefly that Ottilie barely saw what she was meant to be looking at. ‘It’s a spot, see – nothing really to worry about.’

‘Looks funny to me,’ Victor said, and in such a deadly serious tone that Ottilie knew he’d seen something that had alarmed him.

Ottilie nodded at a chair. ‘Corrine, take a seat for a minute and let me have a closer look. I’m sure you’re right – nothing to worry about – but it was hard to tell from what you just showed me.’

Corrine looked as if she wanted to argue but then did as she was asked. Ottilie pulled her collar gently away to reveal an angry-looking patch of skin. Strangely coloured and oddly shaped.

‘Not so much a rash as a bit of a lesion,’ she said quietly as she pondered it.

She didn’t like the look of it at all, but she didn’t want to alarm Corrine and Victor.

‘What is it?’ Victor asked.

‘It’s not bothering me that much,’ Corrine said. ‘I’m sure it just needs a bit of antiseptic cream or something.’

‘Still…’ Ottilie put her collar back and forced a smile. ‘I’m going to ask Dr Cheadle to see you. It’ll probably be something and nothing, like you say, but we’d all be happier if she confirmed that. How long did you say you’ve had it?’

‘Couldn’t really say. Only noticed it a few weeks ago. Thought it would heal but…’ Corrine shrugged. ‘Doesn’t seem to be. What do you think it might be?’

‘Hmm…’ Ottilie didn’t want to say, but everything she heard from Corrine made her slightly more alarmed. She didn’t know what it was, but she didn’t like the possibilities that were forming in her mind. ‘It doesn’t hurt to get a second opinion.’

Victor and Corrine exchanged a worried look.

‘Look, why don’t you phone the surgery and make an appointment that suits you? In the meantime I’ll speak to Dr Cheadle and give her the heads-up; that way she might bring it forward and see you quicker.’

‘Is there a need to see me quick?’ Corrine asked, and immediately Ottilie realised she’d said the wrong thing.

‘Not especially, but the sooner we get to the bottom of it, the sooner your mind’s put at rest, right? I don’t think it can hurt to get it sorted. As you say, a bit of antibiotic cream or something and I’m sure it will be right in no time.’

‘I’ll get on to the surgery,’ Victor said.

‘Are you quite flexible?’ Ottilie asked. ‘Able to attend any time, I mean?’

‘Yes,’ Corrine said. ‘Nobody’s schedule to worry about but our own.’

‘In that case, maybe I’ll give Lavender a call and see whether she has anything free for this afternoon. Give me a second…’

Ottilie took her phone out into the front garden. She wanted a better signal, but she also didn’t want to alarm Corrine or Victor unnecessarily.

‘Hi…is that Lavender?’ she asked as the call was answered.

‘It is. Who is…?’

‘Sorry, it’s Ottilie – your new nurse. We met yesterday when I came in with?—’

‘Flo, yes, I remember. What can I do for you?’

---