now,ââ she said.
Terrible things
ââMiss Crosthwaite!ââ
ââI am perfectly alright, Dr Gordon,ââ she called, continuing to walk down the driveway away from him.
ââYes, I know, but my car is at the gate and Dr McKinnon doesnât want you walking home by yourself, not at this hour.ââ He was perfectly sober, having stayed with fresh orange juice all evening. She had refused coffee, so McKinnon, satisfied that she was not going to faint, had instructed him to drive the lady home, blaming the combination of champagne and temazepam. Their hostess had become indignant: if she had known Lesley was on medication ⦠The elderly bachelor son was worse than useless, flapping about in the background like a demented stork. What a crew.
She stopped abruptly.
ââMy boots,ââ she said. ââI left my boots.ââ
ââIâll fetch them for you.ââ
ââNo. No, leave them.ââ
ââFair enough,ââ he said. ââYou can recover them another time.ââ
Now, finally, she accepted the offer of his arm, even leaning against him. She was wearing perfume, something old fashioned he recognised but couldnât name, something he thought his mother had worn.
ââYouâll have to give me directions,ââ he said. ââRemember, Iâm one of the pesky newcomers.ââ
ââYou must think â¦ââ
ââI must think what?ââ
But she didnât finish her sentence.
He got her into the car with no further difficulty. Heâd dismissed her initially: one more menopausal spinster. Then heâd seen her face change at the use of the word ââtinkerââ: he wondered if there was more to her. Sheâd seemed profoundly unhappy, despite the fixed smile. Only when they slowed to a stop outside her gate, and he looked up at the dark house did he remember being told that she had lost her mother recently.
In his best bedside voice he said, ââThis is a very hard time for you. I think everyone understands that.ââ
ââI donât care if they understand or not.ââ
ââGood for you.ââ
She twisted round to face him. ââWhy did you come here?ââ
Her face was jaundiced in the yellow light from the street lamps.
ââI was asked to see you safely home.ââ
ââNo, here. This village.ââ
It was the first time anyone had asked him. ââI needed the job,ââ he told her. ââIâve been a locum for a long time. It was a case of â¦ââ
ââThis is a terrible place. Terrible things happen here. Terrible things have happened to me.ââ
He waited for more, but nothing came. He got out and went round to open her door.
She peered at him. ââHow can you be a doctor?ââ she said. ââYouâre so young.ââ
ââThirty two. Not so very young.ââ He held out a hand, but she made no move.
ââI never thought I would be fifty. I have no idea how it happened. One day I was seventeen and now look at me. I might as well be dead.ââ
ââCome now, donât talk like that. Letâs get you safely home.ââ
She let him help her out.
ââYouâll feel better in the morning, once youâve had a good â¦ââ
ââOh, go to Hell,ââ she said loudly, slamming the car door. She pushed open her gate and closed it behind her with unnecessary force.
He watched her progress up the path. It occurred to him that there might be stacks of prescription medications in the house after the motherâs long illness. It would be irresponsible not to check. He dialled Dr MacKinnonâs mobile
Terrible things
ââMiss Crosthwaite!ââ
ââI am perfectly alright, Dr Gordon,ââ she called, continuing to walk down the driveway away from him.
ââYes, I know, but my car is at the gate and Dr McKinnon doesnât want you walking home by yourself, not at this hour.ââ He was perfectly sober, having stayed with fresh orange juice all evening. She had refused coffee, so McKinnon, satisfied that she was not going to faint, had instructed him to drive the lady home, blaming the combination of champagne and temazepam. Their hostess had become indignant: if she had known Lesley was on medication ⦠The elderly bachelor son was worse than useless, flapping about in the background like a demented stork. What a crew.
She stopped abruptly.
ââMy boots,ââ she said. ââI left my boots.ââ
ââIâll fetch them for you.ââ
ââNo. No, leave them.ââ
ââFair enough,ââ he said. ââYou can recover them another time.ââ
Now, finally, she accepted the offer of his arm, even leaning against him. She was wearing perfume, something old fashioned he recognised but couldnât name, something he thought his mother had worn.
ââYouâll have to give me directions,ââ he said. ââRemember, Iâm one of the pesky newcomers.ââ
ââYou must think â¦ââ
ââI must think what?ââ
But she didnât finish her sentence.
He got her into the car with no further difficulty. Heâd dismissed her initially: one more menopausal spinster. Then heâd seen her face change at the use of the word ââtinkerââ: he wondered if there was more to her. Sheâd seemed profoundly unhappy, despite the fixed smile. Only when they slowed to a stop outside her gate, and he looked up at the dark house did he remember being told that she had lost her mother recently.
In his best bedside voice he said, ââThis is a very hard time for you. I think everyone understands that.ââ
ââI donât care if they understand or not.ââ
ââGood for you.ââ
She twisted round to face him. ââWhy did you come here?ââ
Her face was jaundiced in the yellow light from the street lamps.
ââI was asked to see you safely home.ââ
ââNo, here. This village.ââ
It was the first time anyone had asked him. ââI needed the job,ââ he told her. ââIâve been a locum for a long time. It was a case of â¦ââ
ââThis is a terrible place. Terrible things happen here. Terrible things have happened to me.ââ
He waited for more, but nothing came. He got out and went round to open her door.
She peered at him. ââHow can you be a doctor?ââ she said. ââYouâre so young.ââ
ââThirty two. Not so very young.ââ He held out a hand, but she made no move.
ââI never thought I would be fifty. I have no idea how it happened. One day I was seventeen and now look at me. I might as well be dead.ââ
ââCome now, donât talk like that. Letâs get you safely home.ââ
She let him help her out.
ââYouâll feel better in the morning, once youâve had a good â¦ââ
ââOh, go to Hell,ââ she said loudly, slamming the car door. She pushed open her gate and closed it behind her with unnecessary force.
He watched her progress up the path. It occurred to him that there might be stacks of prescription medications in the house after the motherâs long illness. It would be irresponsible not to check. He dialled Dr MacKinnonâs mobile
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