Page 13 of Christmas for the Village Midwife
6
Since her replacement was free to start work the following Monday, Fliss decided she wouldn’t wait any longer and called time on her days as Thimblebury’s GP. It felt like a momentous occasion, not just for the woman who had been a forceful personality in the village for almost forty years, but for the people who’d been under her care – some for their entire lives. Everyone understood that things had changed for her since the heart attack that had almost claimed her husband, Charles, but not everyone was happy about her decision to dedicate her time to him alone from then on.
There had been lots of goodbyes in various forms, and it had started to feel like she’d been in the process of leaving forever, so her final day turned out to be oddly flat. There had been hugs and tears, of course, but no real fanfare, and the fact was, Thimblebury was so small Fliss’s colleagues were likely to see her on a regular basis anyway. She’d booked a last-minute grand tour of the Far East for herself and Charles, which meant they’d be gone over Christmas. Zoe wondered why she wouldn’t want to celebrate her first Christmas as a free woman in her home village surrounded by her friends, but Ottilie had offered theopinion that, despite her decision to retire, the reality of it might be making her sadder than she’d admit, and that perhaps she needed a big adventure, filled with distractions and new sights and sounds, to help keep her mind off that – at least while she adjusted to the idea.
What was more of an event was the arrival of Emilia Dickens. Their new GP was far younger than Fliss – having just turned forty – and where Fliss was irreverent and gregarious, a larger-than-life character in every possible way, Emilia was considered and studious. She was softly spoken where Fliss was brisk and brash, and thoughtful where Fliss was reactive, and Zoe could see why their other GP, Simon, had chosen her as the colleague he wanted by his side to take the surgery forward. Emilia was far more like him than Fliss – who could be a loose cannon at times. The other factor in Emilia’s favour was that she’d already worked a good portion of a notice period with her previous employers and so could take up her post quickly, allowing Fliss the pre-Christmas retirement she’d wanted.
All in all, Emilia seemed the perfect fit, though Zoe, Ottilie and Lavender agreed that the new regime would take some getting used to.
Emilia arrived promptly for her first day and shook the hand of everyone who was gathered in the reception to officially welcome her.
‘Pleased to meet you. Looking forward to working with you,’ was the mantra for each of them. It was safe and courteous, giving nothing away.
Lavender took some time to go through initial admin and IT procedures with her and then left her to have a quick word with Ottilie and Zoe in turn before retreating to her own room to set herself up. The only bump in the road was when Lavender informed her of the surgery’s tradition of closing their doors at lunch to share food in the kitchen as a team.
‘Really?’ Emilia had raised her eyebrows in a way that suggested a disapproval she didn’t feel able to air yet. ‘I don’t think I’ll be doing that. Of course, feel free to continue without me.’
Lavender hadn’t been able to get into Zoe’s office quick enough to relay the conversation with a pained expression. Zoe assumed she’d done the same with Ottilie. There hadn’t been much of a window of opportunity for Lavender to really rant, but Zoe knew she’d have many things to say on the matter when they had time to discuss it properly. It was one of the changes she’d been afraid of. She’d long been a passionate guardian of their shared lunch, and she’d hate to see the tradition die out. Zoe did her best to smooth things over, seeing that there could be conflict between their receptionist and their new GP before she’d even sat in Fliss’s seat, and when she had a second spare moment, she popped into Ottilie’s office to get her opinion on the matter.
‘Lavender will come round,’ Ottilie said. ‘And anyway, Emilia didn’t say we had to stop.’
‘No, but I think if she mentions it to Simon, he might start to think about it, and he might agree with her.’
‘Even I agree with her a little bit,’ Ottilie said. ‘In principle, at least, though I like our lunchtimes far too much to say anything. But it’s not standard practice these days, is it?’
‘I suppose not, but I find it useful just to catch up on what’s going on at the surgery. If we dress it up as a daily team briefing with chips…that could persuade him to keep it?’
‘Maybe.’ Ottilie smiled and then winced, rubbing her breastbone.
‘Everything OK?’
‘Indigestion,’ Ottilie said. ‘Happens a lot at the moment. No doubt you’re going to tell me that’s because the baby is taking up more room.’
‘It’s definitely got something to do with it. I’m sure you can sort what you need for it.’
‘I can cope, don’t worry.’
‘I don’t doubt it.’ Zoe paused. ‘You know, I really feel as if I know Emilia from somewhere. I can’t put my finger on it, but she’s so familiar to me I must have met her somewhere before.’
‘Ask her – she might be thinking the same about you.’
‘I could, but I’m sure she would have said something already if that was the case.’
‘Perhaps she’s the same – thinks she’s either mistaken or embarrassed that she can’t remember where she knows you from.’
‘You could be right…’ Zoe paused at Ottilie’s door. ‘I’ll ask her later if I get a minute. Though it won’t be at lunchtime. Apparently.’
‘I know. Poor Lavender.’
‘Do you think Emilia will push to stop the lunch-hour closing? Like you said, Simon’s never been all that bothered about it, so if she put it to him, he might agree that we ought to stay open.’
‘And upset Lavender? Simon’s no fool – he wouldn’t dare!’
Zoe got her chance in the kitchen as she went to get a quick coffee and found Emilia in there doing the same.
‘You don’t remember me, do you?’ Emilia asked, and Zoe wondered if there was a hint of offence in her tone.
‘I’m so sorry…I mean, I do, but I can’t think where we’ve met. I’ve been racking my brain all morning.’
