Page 3 of New Dreams for the Village Nurse
Ottilie laughed. ‘Does it matter? Whichever you’re at, you’re just as bad.’
Lavender accepted a bowl of stew. ‘I’ll never get used to the fact that you two don’t live together. After all, you’ve been married for donkey’s.’
‘God, we could never do that!’ Fliss put a bowl in front of Ottilie. It was thick and rich, with generous chunks of potato and beef. ‘I keep telling you, I think every married couple ought to live apart. It makes for a far better marriage. We’ve both always hated the idea of living in each other’s pockets.’
Ottilie could think of many good reasons why most married couples took the more traditional route when it came to living arrangements – namely the cost of running two houses – but she didn’t say so. Fliss and Charles had their ways, and clearly it suited them. In fact, Ottilie would have been pushed to name a happier couple, so perhaps there was something in it. Not that she’d have dreamed of such an arrangement with Josh, the husband she’d lost sixteen months previously. She tried not to dwell on that now, though. There would be quieter moments, private moments to remember and be sad. This wasn’t one of them.
‘Actually,’ Fliss said, ‘we’ve booked a lovely trip with some vouchers my sister-in-law gave us. A winery tour in Sussex.’
‘Oh, don’t tell me you’re actually taking time off!’ Ottilie said with a laugh.
‘I know, insane, isn’t it?’ Fliss replied. ‘Even I need the odd weekend.’
‘So we’ll be getting emergency cover?’ Lavender asked.
‘Yes, but it won’t be for a few months yet, so I wouldn’t worry about it.’
Lavender slurped at her stew and made a face of appreciation. ‘I can’t remember the last time you went on holiday.’
‘Neither can I,’ Fliss agreed, ‘though it’s hardly a holiday. We are both looking forward to it, though. A bit of quality time together and all that.’
Ottilie grinned. ‘Plus wine.’
‘Yes, my one true love,’ Fliss replied. ‘And Charles isn’t too bad either!’
As they all laughed, the sound of the phone ringing in the reception reached them. Ottilie shot a questioning look at Lavender, but Fliss intervened.
‘Everyone knows not to phone at this time of the day, so if it’s a patient they’ll call back, or they can press the button and go to the emergency line.’
Ottilie enjoyed their lunches but she’d never been comfortable with that arrangement. However, it did seem to have worked for the surgery over the years, so she didn’t argue. Instead, she went back to one of the best beef stews she’d ever eaten and thought no more about it.
There’d been time for a quick drink and a change of clothes at home that evening, and then Ottilie had headed straight back out to the community kitchen to help with the cooking. It was yet more work, but she’d been looking forward to it all day. There was a camaraderie, a sense of pulling together and of doing good that was addictive – not to mention how much she enjoyed simply socialising with the other volunteers.
Ottilie was the last to arrive and work had already begun. Her friend, Stacey, tossed an apron over to her as she walked into the kitchen.
‘Come on, slacker. I’ve peeled half a sack of carrots already and you’ve only just waltzed in.’
Ottilie grinned. ‘Sorry, boss.’
Everyone else greeted her with a little more decorum, but no less warmly.
The kitchen was part of the village hall and fitted with steel units and white tiles. It was too small for so many of them, but they always managed well enough. The important thing about this venue was that the hall where the dining tables were being set up by Magnus and Geoff from the village shop and post office was big enough to comfortably seat their regulars and anyone else who might want to stop by. Everyone was always welcome and nobody was turned away, no matter how full or busy they got. It was a philosophy of friendship and nobody was judged for using the service.
Working tonight was Janet – the founder and organiser of the kitchen – along with Stacey, Ottilie’s new best friend, Magnus and Geoff setting up the dining room and Heath’s grandma, Flo. Ottilie and Heath had got together four months previously – a romance that very nearly didn’t happen, but one that Ottilie was happy to report, after many setbacks, did. Happy because she was in love when she never imagined a second chance at something this good could be out there. When she’d lost her husband, Josh, she’d felt as if her life was over. But then she’d come to Thimblebury and she’d met Flo, and through Flo she’d met Heath, and suddenly she’d had happiness and hope again.
‘Where do you want me?’ she asked Janet as she tied her apron.
‘I know it’s a horrible job, but I don’t suppose you could cut some onions?’
Ottilie nodded and went to get the sack. ‘I’ve got plenty of tissues in my bag at least.’
‘Put a spoon in your mouth,’ Flo called over.
Ottilie stared at her as she came back to her workstation and hunted in the drawer for a knife.
‘It stops you from crying,’ Flo said.
‘Don’t fall for that,’ Stacey called over. ‘She tried to tell me that once – it didn’t work. I think it might have made things worse, actually. And all I could taste all night was rusty spoon.’
