Page 74 of A Helpin g Hand for the Village Nurse

‘I think it might have changed a bit since then.’

‘Yes, well, a leopard never changes its spots.’

Ottilie was fairly certain that proverb was aimed at people rather than cities, but there was probably no point in telling Flo that.

Flo sniffed again. ‘It’s always the way. Everyone leaves in the end.’

‘I don’t want to leave, and I’ll stay in touch.’

‘No you won’t. Everyone says that and they don’t.’

‘I promise I will.’

Flo got up. ‘So I don’t need to bother with any more tests?’

‘I don’t know. Are you still having your funny turns?’

Flo opened her mouth but then paused. ‘I am.’

‘Oh.’ Ottilie gestured for her to sit down again, but Flo picked up her basket. ‘I need more from you than that if we’re going to do something about them.’

‘What’s the point? You won’t be here to take me to the hospital.’

‘Someone will take you.’

‘What do you care either way? You won’t be here. No…if I’m going to fall off my perch, then so be it. I’m old anyway – bound to happen sooner rather than later. Perhaps people will realise they miss me when I’m gone.’

‘Flo, please…’ Ottilie began, but Florence swept out of the room in much the same way as Fliss and Lavender had done earlier that morning. Déjà vu didn’t even begin to cover today, and it was only eleven thirty. Who else might be queuing up to tell her how disappointed they were that she was leaving? She’d never imagined there’d be so much fuss; it wasn’t like she was Thimblebury born and bred or anything. People would move away from the street she’d lived in with Josh in Manchester and she’d hardly notice they’d gone. If anything, all this fuss made it harder still. This was precisely what she’d come to Thimblebury looking for, and here she was, thinking of leaving it all behind. She began to wonder if she might be persuaded to listen to Lavender’s plans to keep her there after all.

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE

Corrine wasn’t taking no for an answer, and Victor was backing her the whole way. Ottilie had used every excuse she had not to accept their offer. Deep down, she wanted to. Despite feeling overwhelmed by their generosity and undeserving of such kindness, she wanted to accept all the offers that had been made since Flo and Lavender had galvanised the entire village into action. It was a way out she hadn’t seen coming.

The socially acceptable thing was to thank people for their kind offers but refuse them anyway. But Ottilie realised that the time for socially acceptable was gone. Desperate circumstances called for desperately impolite measures. She could stay with Corrine and Victor at Daffodil Farm – they seemed keen enough, and she knew how indebted they felt to her. She could allow spare hands to rip out all that was rotten and waterlogged from Wordsworth Cottage and replace it with new – it would cost, of course, but it would cost an amount she might be able to stretch to, rather than something that would bankrupt her. She could do all that and her problems would be solved, but she didn’t know how she could live with the sense of obligation afterwards. She’d owe everyone so much, a debt that she could never repay. She’d never been one for that sort of thing, always making her own way where she could. Accepting help didn’t come easily.

‘The way I see it,’ Corrine said, putting a cup of tea down in front of Ottilie, ‘it’s silly to say no. It’s not just that we don’t want you to leave – I have a selfish reason too.’

Ottilie didn’t imagine Corrine having a selfish bone in her, but she simply gave a tense smile as she reached for the teacup.

‘You know all about my cancer,’ Corrine said. ‘If we had a new nurse, I’d have to start from scratch with them.’

‘They’d only have to read your notes to be up to speed,’ Ottilie said. ‘And quite honestly, I won’t be that involved in your treatment anyway from here on in. Most of it will be at the hospital.’

‘But you’ll be looking in to check on my cuts?’ Corrine took a seat across from her.

‘Cuts?’

‘You know, when they cut this damned spot out and patch me up. Someone will have to check on me to make sure it’s not infected or anything, won’t they?’

‘Any competent nurse will be able to do that.’

Corrine shot a look at Victor.

‘Corrine would feel better if it was you,’ he put in, seemingly at her bidding, though she was perfectly able to say so herself.

‘You found my spot after all,’ Corrine added.

‘You found your spot,’ Ottilie said. ‘I only advised you to do what I’m sure you would have done eventually anyway, which was to go and see Dr Cheadle. Much as I’d love to take credit for it, I can’t.’

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