The Start of Summer (Ste Therese)
The CBB -> Starting again at Sarres...
#1: The Start of Summer (Ste Therese) Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:17 pm

I was going to wait till the new board, but I'm being nudged *g* and at least now it can be archived maybe


It was a beautiful, sunny afternoon at the end of July.

Dr Rix Bettany opened his surgery window with a smile and whistled to attract the attention of his three five-year old sons, playing in the garden below. His final patient, a Mrs Olsen, was late. She was a new patient, and they hadn’t received her medical records yet.

They had been living in Howells for over four years now, Mary-Lou, who had married him some six years previously, had published two books on archaeology to modest acclaim and he had set up as a general practitioner, following the retirement of the previous incumbent. It wasn’t what he had dreamed of doing, but it was bearable and it did enable him to spend a lot more time with his family.

The triplets were occupied in collecting bits of wood, but upon noticing him, they raced over.

“Daddy!” James reached the window first. “Come and play with us! We’re building a fort, look!”

“I’ll be able to come out very soon, Jamie. Where’s Mummy?”

“She’s gone to ask Auntie Jane if she’s got any spare wood.” Tom said solemnly. “Can you help us build it, please Daddy?”

“You bet. Would you like your fort to go up in the oak tree?” Rix sat down on the windowsill, looking down with a smile at their three, almost-identical faces.

“A tree house?” Alex frowned, considering. “I thought they were for girls.”

“No they’re not, I want the fort in a tree,” James said, dictatorially. “We can see the enemy better from up in the tree.”

“If you collect more pieces of wood, you can have both,” Rix promised, “I’ll be down in about ten minutes.”

“Sorry to disturb you, doctor,” his assistant, Dilys came in, apologetically. “Your final patient is here.”

Rix closed the window and turned round, straightening his tie, “Thanks Dilys. Good afternoon, Mrs Olsen.”

She was small and dark and pretty, she shook hands and smiled at him.

“Thanks for seeing me at such short notice, Dr Bettany, I do appreciate it,”

“Not at all, what can I do for you?” he replied, cheerfully, indicating a chair and sitting down himself. She was looking at him rather intently.

“You look very familiar to me,” she said, “Bettany - even that is familiar.”

------------
He glanced at her, but he was too professional to show his curiosity. He knew from experience that some patients needed to talk or build a rapport before sharing their symptoms. He had learnt patience since coming to Howells.

“I’ve an aunt who was Madge Bettany before she married. She had a school here for a while. I’ve another aunt who writes – Josephine M Bettany,” he remarked, pleasantly, as she sat down.

“I went to a few different schools. I’ve heard of Josephine M Bettany. I’ve recently moved to the area,” she changed the subject. “I think I might be pregnant.”

She noticed his glance at her left hand and laughed. “We’ve just moved here from Denmark, Dr Bettany. One wears one’s wedding band on the right hand there,” she held it up. “You see? Perfectly respectable.”

“Of course, I’m sorry,” she had made him feel small-minded and provincial, and it annoyed him. “Is your husband Danish?”

“Yes. This could be our third. I’ve brought you a sample. It’s in my handbag.”

He nodded. She discussed her two children while he examined her, a boy of seven and a girl of five. “They hate me and my husband at the moment, for taking them away from their friends in Copenhagen. They refuse to speak English and Christian’s so naughty… I expect he’s tearing your waiting room to bits as we speak.” She sat up and began to dress.

“Not with my receptionist keeping an eye on him – she’s had plenty of practice keeping my own brats in line,” he grinned.

“I heard about your children in the village.”

“Oh, yes? They’re the same age as your daughter. Congratulations by the way, you are expecting.”

“I thought I was,” she sounded forlorn and remembering his time helping the clinic in Stepney, he picked up on it.

“Wasn’t it a planned pregnancy, Mrs Olsen?” he asked, as she finished dressing.

“Oh no, but it’s a happy surprise, believe me. Klaus will be thrilled. I’m just – I suppose it’s just bad timing. I wanted to settle in and get to know people in the village.”

“There’s an NCT meeting every week, I can have Dilys look out the details for you. The WI are quite active as well…”

“I’m not really one for flower-arranging, but thank you. You are kind.”

“It’s nothing,” he said, studying her covertly as she pulled on her coat. She was very attractive and had very dark hair and she reminded him of Gina, a former girlfriend which was disconcerting. “In any case, you must bring the children round to meet our three.”

When she had gone, he went into the garden to join his family.

"Daddy, you said you’d only be ten minutes," James said, reproachfully.

"I had to see my last patient, didn’t I? Then I had to change my clothes, you remember what your mother said to me after that time we went to play football in the meadow," Rix winked at his wife, who grinned back, before assuming a mock-stern expression.

"What’s this about building a tree-house?" she demanded.

"It’s not a tree house, it’s a fort" Alexander said, with a scowl.

"Sorry, a fort, of course," Mary-Lou gave her husband a secret smile, as she ruffled the black curls of her second son.

"How would you like some other children to play with this summer?" Rix asked, scooping up Alex in his arms before starting to tickle him. "The lady I’ve just seen has two about your age, a boy and a girl."

"A girl?" Alex wriggled out of his father’s grasp, giggling and considered,. "Tom can play with her."

"You can all play with her," Mary-Lou said, with a frown at him, "Who are they, darling? New people?"

"They’ve just moved here, name of Olsen. She’s English, I think, but he’s Danish. They’ve got two kids, a boy of seven, and a girl of five. I suggested they could come round and play with the boys."

"They must have taken the Phillips’ house," Mary-Lou mused. "I must pop round and say hello before I go to Verity next week."

Rix paused, letting go of Alex, who ran to join his brothers in piling the wood. "I thought we were all going?"

"No - I forgot I hadn’t told you. Alan ‘phoned this morning. Verity’s not up to coping with the boys as well. It’s only three weeks since she had the baby, so instead of us all going for a fortnight, I thought I’d go on my own, just for a week - and then," she added, hurriedly, for he was frowning, "We could take the boys somewhere else for the second week - maybe the cottage in Garnley?

"That’s a good idea. I’ll get on to the locum tomorrow morning and cancel the first week."

"No, don’t do that, you deserve a break. You could spend time with the boys, or take them to the Quadrant, perhaps."

"I’ll think about it." He looked up at the sound of raised, childish voices and sighed as he saw Alex and Tom starting to argue.

*

Luckily it was easily settled and far from an extraordinary occurrence. Tom and Alex were alike in temperament and fought almost daily.

The boys went to bed very soon after supper, so he could talk to Mary-Lou about Verity’s new baby daughter.

At first she refused to discuss the matter, at all, withdrawing in a frosty way. He persisted, and eventually she could sob out her jealousy and hurt in his arms.


“Mr Olsen? My name is Mary-Lou Bettany, and these are Alex, James and Thomas. Welcome to Howells Village,” Mary-Lou smiled, at the man who had opened the door of the pretty cottage opposite the village green. “My husband, Dr Bettany, met your wife and children yesterday.”

“Klaus Olsen,” He replied politely, holding out his hand. “Thank you. Won’t you come in?”

“Thank you.” Mary-Lou walked in, handing him the basket of scones she had baked, and he thanked her, in his careful and accented English.

“This is Christian, my son, and Jana, my daughter.” Mr Olsen waved in the direction of two children, who stared at the triplets, cautiously. “I’m afraid Lida, my wife, is not home – she likes to walk in the afternoons.”

“Well, there are some jolly walks around here. We live at Carn Beg, at the other end of the village. My husband’s surgery is there as well. Boys, why don’t you run and play with Christian and Jana?” She smiled at the blonde girl and brown-haired boy, who turned to each other and said something in Danish to each other, before Christian came forward and said they should all go to the garden, in perfect English.

The triplets were not shy and followed eagerly, full of questions about the newcomers. Mary-Lou noticed that Alex and James scorned Jana for the moment, consistent with their current anti-girl phase, but was pleased to see that Thomas spoke to her nicely.

“May I offer you some coffee?” Klaus Olsen asked.

“Thank you, that would be lovely. Rix – my husband, mentioned that you’ve moved here from Denmark?”

“Yes. Copenhagen, but we have moved here so I can write my book. It is quiet here, and I can have some peace.”

“Oh, yes, it is very quiet in Howells. I write myself, and you can generally get a lot done.” Mary-Lou glanced out of the window, but the triplets seemed to be playing happily. “Is it fiction or non-fiction?”

“It’s about quantum mathematics, you would probably find it very dull,” he smiled, “I’ll be lecturing at the University of Warwick. Lida taught formerly at the Mathematics Institute of Copenhagen, which was were we met.”

“Oh?” Mary-Lou was impressed, remembering how she had always loathed Maths in any shape or form. When she mentioned this to Klaus, he laughed and agreed.

“Do you work, Mrs Bettany?” he asked, as they sipped coffee.

“I’m an archaeologist, under my maiden name. I’m just putting the finishing touches to my PhD thesis and of course, I am just starting to get back to going on expeditions now that the children are older. I went to the Middle East last year. Mm? Oh, it’s Trelawney, I’m Mary-Lou Trelawney for my work.”

“I’ve heard of you – one of my colleagues recommended your book. And of course, I’ve heard of your father.”

The conversation turned to academia and Mary-Lou was pleased to be able to fill him in on some of the university gossip. In fact, she was sorry when the clock struck quarter to one and she had to take her leave.

“Are Christian and Jana nice?” she asked, as they hurried back to Carn Beg for lunch.

“Jana is. Christian isn’t.” Tom said, slipping his hand into hers. “He shouted at Jana for wanting to play with him an’ Alex an’ Jamie. Can Jana come round an’ play, please Mummy?”

“Of course she can, darling.”

“She’s clever, she can tell me an’ Alex apart,” Tom continued, obviously very taken with his new friend.

“Really?” Mary-Lou glanced at Alex, who was identical to Thomas. James was very similar to them both, but his eyes had turned as dark as his father’s and some of his features were more like Mollie Bettany’s than his brothers. But people had great difficulty in telling Alex and Thomas apart. “She must be clever.”

“I wish I didn’t look like you,” Alex said, rather nastily, but before they could fight, their attention was taken with a pony, eating the flowers next to the Village shop, and elderly Mr Thirlbeck coming out to shout at it and wave his arms, much to the children’s amusement.



“How long do you want to stay?” Rix asked his little sister, Daphne, who had telephoned him at the surgery.

“Oh, just a week or so… It’s so boring here, Rix, honestly. Nothing but cows and hens and Mum fussing over what I’m wearing and where I’m going! I’ll look after the Trips or do housework, anything, please?”

Rix suppressed a grin, imagining sixteen-year old Daphne doing housework. “We’ve got Mrs Jones,” he said, naming their housekeeper/cook who came daily from the village.

“I’ll babysit then.” She had an answer for everything.

“Oh, all right, but you’ll have to pull your weight around the house. And only if Mary-Lou agrees, all right?”



“Daphne asks if she can come and stay for a week,” he said, as they ate dinner, after another evening spent in the garden, building forts.

“Auntie Daphne’s coming?” Tom asked, dropping the contents of his fork over the tablecloth.

“Maybe. Eat your dinner properly, please. She said she’s bored at the Quadrant. She’s offered to look after the boys.”

“Of course she can come, and if she’s offering to take the boys about a bit, I’d welcome her with open arms.” Mary-Lou smiled. “It means I can go to London to arrange about Father’s collection and I might as well take the opportunity to see some of the university people, without taking the kids.”

“Can’t we go to London with you, Mummy?” Tom’s face fell almost comically.

“No darling, there’s nowhere for you to stay. Auntie Vi’s only got a small flat. I’ll bring you back a present, if Daddy tells me you’ve been good for Auntie Daphne.”

“We’ll have fun without you, Mummy,” Alex smiled, cheekily, making his mother laugh.

“I’m sure you will! Oh, Rix, we met the new family, too. He’s very nice, he’s a Professor of Maths. I didn’t meet her though, she was out, but we must invite them round for dinner.”

“Good idea,” Rix started to pile the plates.



He saw her again the next morning. Mary-Lou had a headache, so he had taken the children to the village shop to pick up the few groceries she had wanted and left her to lie in.

Maud Thirlbeck, who was serving that day, adored the Bettany triplets. They were content to stand by the counter and charm her into giving them sweets from one of the jars on the shelf. Rix sent them outside while he gave his wife’s order and chatted. They usually sat on the bench outside the shop in the sunshine.

“Hello – you must be the Bettany triplets,” A lady came over to them, smiling.

“Hello,” they chorused, politely, forgetting they were forbidden to speak to strangers.

“Let me see – you must be Tom and you must be Alex,” she laughed merrily.

“I’m James,” James said at once.

“Of course you are, darling. Oh, good morning, Dr Bettany.”

“Hello Mrs Olsen.” Rix took her hand, noticing that she’d moved her wedding ring to her left. He also saw again how attractive she was and that her two children did not take after her.

“This is Christian and Jana. We’re going to the tea shop to have a coffee, would you like to join us?”

Last edited by Mia on Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:43 am; edited 14 times in total

 

#2:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:18 pm

“Good morning, Doctor,” Miss Aldham, one of the two elderly spinsters who owned the tea shop, greeted him at once. “This is an unexpected pleasure, we don’t see you often enough.”

“My wife won’t let me come here, Miss Aldham,” he smiled, “I’ve told her there’s no comparison between your delicious cakes and her attempts at baking.”

“Go away with you! I’ll bring some over,” she walked away, beaming all over her face at the compliment.

Mrs Olsen laughed, “I bet you’ve got every woman in the village eating out of your hand.”

He smiled, “No chance, most of them remember me from when I was a kid. We lived a couple of miles out of the village, towards Armiford. It’s taken ages for them to stop bringing up the time I smashed the village hall window playing cricket.”

“Ssh, don’t give Christian ideas,”

“Can we play on the swings out back, please, Daddy?” James was bored of this conversation.

“What a good idea, darling,” Mrs Olsen said, and all five went out to the small playground at the rear of the teashop.

“Will you have coffee? I might not, I’m afraid the morning sickness I had with these two is coming back.”

“Are you having a lot of sickness?” he asked.

“Some. I’m afraid I’ve an ulterior motive for asking you to join us, Dr Bettany,” she looked up at him through her long lashes. “I don’t want you to tell anyone about the baby, not just yet. I – I need to find the right time to tell Klaus.”

“Mrs Olsen… I wouldn’t tell anyone, I’m bound not to discuss patient’s confidential details.” Rix frowned. “I can assure you…”

“I’m sorry. I expect I’m being very insulting. Only – well, I know that some doctors do discuss things with one another, or with their wives, and well – I expect everyone will know soon enough, but… Look, please call me Lida, won’t you? I want us to be friends.”

“I’m Rix. I don’t discuss anything with my wife, but I know what you mean. Some doctors might discuss cases, but I don’t.”

“Rix,” A look of utter relief crossed her face. “The system is different in Denmark. I do apologise. Does – if Klaus asked you, would you have to tell him?”

“No – You’ve asked me not to tell him, then I won’t.”

“I was ill when Jana was born and my doctors told Klaus things I would have preferred to tell him myself.” Her eyes lost their sparkle. “It was a bad time for us, but… You must forgive me telling you all this, but once my medical records arrive from Copenhagen, you will learn it anyway. And, as I said, I would like us to be friends.”

“Of course,” he said, as their drinks and a selection of cakes arrived.

Rix could tell that Lida, as he now called her, was uncomfortable about having revealed so much. He also wondered just what her medical files, due to arrive from her Danish doctor, would contain.

He told her a lot of village gossip, and some funny anecdotes about the triplets, which made her relax a little.

“Your aunt, the writer, she has triplets, doesn’t she?”

“She does, Len, Con and Margot. Do you know Aunt Joey?”

“Oh, no, I’ve read her books. She dedicated one to her triplet daughters,” she looked out of the window at the children, briefly.

“Con’s married to a great friend of mine, I’m hoping they’ll be able to visit later this summer. They’ve got a little boy of eighteen months. Len’s got two girls, she’s married as well, and living in Switzerland. Margot’s just finished her medical training.”

“You’re close to your family then,” she shook her glossy, dark hair back from her face, her expression inscrutable.

“I suppose so, we’ve had our arguments, but what family hasn’t? I should see my parents more often, I suppose.”

“I haven’t seen my parents for years... We argued, years ago, when Christian was a baby and I gave up my work at the Institute. They – they pushed me very hard, when I was a child, I was clever and they wanted me to do well – I don’t know why I’m telling you about all my problems.”

“I’m your doctor, you can talk to me about anything, in confidence,”

“I went from school to school, I never had any friends; I was bullied… I-I’m sorry,” she wiped away a tear. “I should really make an appointment, shouldn’t I?”

“Ssh, it’s all right.” He patted her arm, sympathetically.


“I used to cry myself to sleep in the dormitory, wishing I had just one friend. All the other girls seemed so popular. I knew it was my own fault, I went to three schools and it was the same story in all of them. Even some of the mistresses disliked me.”

“You’re not alone, you know, Lida... Kids can be cruel… It’s one of the reasons I’m not sending the boys away to school, although I know it’s probably different now.”

She smiled and laid her hand on his, “You are kind. I appreciate it.

He pulled his hand away, gently. “I’d better go back. Will you be all right?

She nodded, so he called the triplets and paid for their cakes and coffee on his way out. At the door, he looked back at her, sympathetically, but missed seeing the smile that slowly crossed her face.

*

“Are you feeling better?” he sat down on the edge of the bed, where Mary-Lou was dozing.

“A bit,” she said, sleepily. “Where are the kids?”

“Mrs Jones is feeding them, don’t worry, then they’re going to play in the garden. I’ve done the shopping and we met the Olsens, the boys seem to be making friends.”

“I’m glad. She’s lovely, isn’t she, the little girl?”

“Yes,” he studied at her carefully, noting her over-bright tone. “We might hear soon. I could phone them…”

“Don’t… I couldn’t bear it if it was bad news.”

“It won’t be, I’m sure, but I won’t ring if you don’t want me to.” He was vaguely irritated by the superstition she had built up around the adoption agency they had contacted, but he took care not to show it. “Only remember what Geraldine said, they might not have a little girl to give us.”

“I know,” she sighed. “I think I’ll try and get back to sleep.”

“OK.” He kissed her, knowing that once he had gone, she would cry. He sighed, wishing deep down that she could be happy with him and the three healthy children they had, without this inexorable need for a daughter.

*

Geraldine didn’t telephone until after Mary-Lou had left to visit Verity, and then it was only to touch base, as she said. She had no definite news. Rix thanked her and hung up.

He took the boys with him to Armiford Station; they were excited about ‘Auntie Daphne’s’ visit and ran about on the concourse so he wished he’d left them at home.

He was calling them to order, bad-temperedly, when he saw Lida Olsen coming from Platform 2, with her husband.

They were talking intently and didn’t notice him, or the triplets. Rix felt reluctant to say hello. Klaus Olsen, who was much younger than he had expected, had his arm around his wife and looked very much in love with her. From what Lida had said in the tea shop, he had wondered if they had problems in their relationship, but they did look close. He watched as Lida laughed at something her husband said, as they walked out of the station.

“Rix! Hello, you were miles away!” Daphne was wearing jeans with her curly hair loose over her shoulders and she had lipstick on. He suspected she had waited until she had been far away from the Quadrant before that had been applied.

“Hi Daffy, sorry, how was the journey? Give me your bag, I’ve got the car outside.”
“Has Mary-Lou gone yet?” Daphne asked as her brother rounded up the children.

“Yes, she went yesterday. You’re still all right to keep an eye on the boys during the day, aren’t you? The locum’s not arriving till Thursday and this is only Monday. However, I’m going to take three weeks off and we can go away for a week if you like – Garnley or somewhere.”

“Garnley’s boring. Can’t we go to London?”

“We might go up for the day, if you behave yourself and if I can find someone to look after the kids.”

“Brilliant! I’ve got all my birthday money saved up. I could get some new gear, couldn’t I?”

“It’s your cash. I could ask Con if she’d take you round the shops,” Rix pulled out of the station car park, after a quick look round for the Olsens, who seemed to have disappeared.

“Con? Oh no, I could go round on my own. I’m sixteen now, I’m hardly a kid.”

“All right… Anything interesting happened at home?”

She sighed, “No, nothing ever happens there. Mummy just fusses all the time now, it’s really boring. Daddy says it’s a difficult time and we just have to be patient with her. She’s obsessed with my clothes, honestly.”

“A difficult time? What did he mean?”

“You’re the doctor, aren’t you? What do you think? After all, she’s ancient now, it’s not like she wants more children, so I don’t know what all the fuss is about,”

“Ah, I see. I’ll speak to her on the phone tonight.”

“Maurice has got a girlfriend,” Daphne said, scornfully. “She’s really wet, she’s scared of the animals. She keeps on baking cakes and bringing them round and Maurice doesn’t even like them but he eats them anyway.”

She chattered on for the rest of the journey, and when they arrived back at Carn Beg, she took charge of the triplets while he went to see his first patient.

Jane Curtis, Mary-Lou’s friend from the village, came round with a cake she had baked, just as the Bettanys were about to eat supper.

“Sorry, I know it’s late.” She was brusque by nature. “I’ll just leave this and run. Hello, boys, I hope you’re behaving yourselves.”

“Thanks, Jane. This is Daphne, my sister, staying with us for a few weeks. Join us for supper? There’s plenty.” Rix offered, hoping she would refuse.

She considered. “All right. Thank you. Hello, Daphne. You must go to the Chalet School that Mary-Lou’s told me about. Enjoy it, do you?”

“I go to the Carnbach branch.” Daphne looked bored. “I’ve just failed my O levels, but I don’t care, I’m going to art school in September.”

“Armiford’s got a good one,” Jane replied, tucking into her food.

“She’s not going to art school, and she hasn’t failed her exams. Anyway, if you have, you know you can retake them, Daphne.”
Daphne subsided, and Jane changed the subject. “I saw the new people today, the Danes. Their son’s behaviour is atrocious - he was actually pulling all the plants in the village square up. I managed to replant them, but when I told his idiot of a mother, she just laughed. Disgraceful really… “ she fumed.

“It’s a big adjustment, to come to a new country.”

“Another delinquent to add to those ruffians who hang around in the playground in the evenings,” she sniffed. “You know, Ross Parry and the Griffiths pair.”

“They’re just bored, Jane, it’s not as if they have anywhere else to go. They’re hardly delinquents.”

“You wouldn’t let your three hang around the streets like that and you know it,” she seemed to be gearing up for one of her lengthy arguments and he wasn’t in the mood for it, although normally he didn’t mind the debate. The description of Lida Olsen’s out-of-character behaviour was bothering him and he couldn’t quite fathom why.

“How do you know Mary-Lou?” Daphne asked, managing to change the subject.

*

“Who are these Danish people?” she asked, as they were doing the washing up together. “You looked really annoyed when she started on about them.”

“She’s just a busybody who can’t stop interfering in everybody’s business,” he replied, bad-temperedly.

“Ouch, that’s harsh… I thought she was your pal?”

“She’s Mary-Lou’s friend, hates any newcomers to the village.”

“Is there anyone my age around here?” Daphne put the last plate away and closed the cupboard door.

“Besides Jane’s delinquents? There are the farm lads, of course, and Karen and Susan Thirlbeck from the shop. The vicar’s got a daughter… think she’s fifteen or thereabouts.”

“Better than Channing St Mary, but only just.”

“I told you so. Cheer up, we’ll go to London and there’s an art gallery in Armiford I’ll take you to next weekend. D’you really want to study art?”

She shrugged. “No, but I really have messed up my exams.”

“Well, don’t worry about them all summer. I’d better go and settle the kids,” he added, as there was a thud from the floor above.

It was quite late when the phone rang, startling them both.

“Who’s ringing this late?” Daphne asked.

“Could be one of my patients… Hello, Dr Bettany… Yes.”

Daphne returned to the chessboard, with which they had been amusing themselves, to plan her next move. Rix was on the phone for some time.

“You don’t have to go out, do you?” she asked, as he returned, frowning. “Who was it, one of your patients?”

“No, someone I was at school with – Liam Cameron. He wanted to talk to Mary-Lou. I’ve tried to phone her, but the operator’s told me Verity’s phone is down.”

“Why would someone who you were at school with want to speak to Mary-Lou and not you?” Daphne asked, but her brother was hunting for his car keys and wasn’t listening.

“I need to drive to Verity’s – I’ll phone Jane and ask her to come over and stay the night. Is that all right?”

“Yes – but what’s happened?” Daphne asked, worriedly.

“Something about the Murray-Cameron expedition, I’m not quite sure… Look, go up to bed, it’s late. I’ll fetch Jane and give her my keys and I’ll see you tomorrow, all right?”

“What’s the Murray-Cameron expedition?” Daphne asked, blankly, as the door slammed behind him.

Jane, once she had heard the full story, agreed at once to staying the night at Carn Beg, for which Rix was thankful. He couldn’t leave Daphne alone to cope with the triplets, not overnight, but he had to tell his wife before she looked over the morning papers or heard the news on the radio.
*

“Hello! Are you here to see Auntie Joey, I mean Mrs Maynard?”

“Yes,” he paused and looked down at the sturdy ten year-old with the fair pigtails, sat on the steps of Plas Gwyn. “I’m her nephew.”

“Are you David, Josette’s brother?” she asked, eagerly.

“No, I’m her cousin, Rix Bettany.”

“Oh I know! You’re Peggy’s brother,” she beamed up at him, “I met Peggy last week. I’m going to go to the Chalet School next week, when term starts.”

“Good for you. Is Auntie Jo in?” He was in a hurry to speak to his aunt and he never had much time for Josette’s friends as a rule.

“She’s with Mother, they sent me outside to play, but Anna’s taken the triplets and the boys to the village. I’m Mary-Lou Trelawney and I’m ten.”

“Oh, right.” Rix frowned, “I’d better not go barging in if she’s got a visitor.”

“”Mother won’t be long, we’ve got to go to Armiford on the bus to buy my uniform and the bus is in fifteen minutes,” she informed him in her self-possessed way.

“Okay,” he said down next to her, with a suppressed sigh. “I’d better wait then. Want some toffee, Mary?”

She fixed him with a glare, comic on her little round face. “It’s Mary-Lou,” she said, indignantly.

*

Mary-Lou was awake, in the guest bedroom of Verity’s home just outside Gloucester, which overlooked the front of the house. She heard the car and looked out. Seeing her husband, she dashed downstairs at once and wrenched open the front door.

“What’s wrong?” she demanded, anxiously, “The boys…”

“No, they’re fine.” He took her in his arms. “Everyone’s fine. I’ve left the kids with Jane and Daphne. I’m sorry to come over so late – are Verity and Alan asleep?”

“Yes – Rix, something must be wrong…”

“I had a phone call from Cameron, he was a few forms above me at Winchester. They’ve found your father, and his… Their remains.” He smoothed back her hair that had fallen to cover her face. “I thought you should know right away. I’m sorry, darling.”

“Oh… I see. I didn’t know him, you know, I was younger than the boys when he left. I can barely remember him. What will happen now?”

“You can give him a proper burial, at least.”

“I’m glad – my mother always wanted that, you know. We had the memorial service, but – you came all this way to tell me, you didn’t have to do that. I do love you.”

“Of course I did, I love you, too, Cameron said it’ll be in the papers tomorrow.”

“I wish Mother were here to know they’d found him,” she sighed, as they went inside.



The next morning, they came down to breakfast together, startling Verity and her husband, who had slept through Rix’s arrival.

Mary-Lou told them about the discovery. Alan nodded.

“I heard about the new trip on the radio, that they were following in the footsteps of the original group – but then I forgot all about it. I’m sorry, I should have said something,” he said, sympathetically.

“Come to that, I read about it myself. I just never thought – I never asked when I was a kid, I suppose I just assumed he’d been buried over there. Still, I’ll meet Mr Cameron, the Murrays and some others when I’m in London next week and see what’s going to happen. You should come, Verity.” Mary-Lou turned to her sister-by-marriage. “They might like to meet you.”

“Oh, I couldn’t, Mary-Lou, Emily’s too young to be left at the moment.” Verity turned imploring eyes to Alan, who patted her hand reassuringly.

“Fine, it doesn’t matter.” Mary-Lou pushed her bowl of untouched porridge away as the baby’s cries sounded from above.

“I’ll go and see to her,” Verity got up and went upstairs, looking relieved.

“I need to go to my office, I’m going to be late…” Alan left the Bettanys together.

“I wish for once – oh, forget it.” Mary-Lou stood up. “It won’t take me long to pack, I’d barely un-packed…”

“I’ll come with you to London, if you want me to,” he offered

“Thanks… I’ll phone Vi from home. I need to phone Mr Cameron first and see what’s happening…” she looked worried. “Do you think I’ll need to fly out there?”

“We’ll phone and see, but I wouldn’t have thought so. The authorities will deal with all that kind of thing. I’d better go and see to the car.”

“Don’t you want to meet your niece? She’s beautiful,” Mary-Lou said, wistfully.

“Sure, I’ll go and say goodbye to Verity.”

“Don’t say anything to her, she’s always been the same. Joey always said she was like a broken reed.”

*

They drove back in silence, both deep in thought. Mary-Lou was inwardly rather dreading the meeting with Professor Cameron’s son and planning a funeral service for the father she hadn’t known.

 

#3:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:19 pm

“I’d arranged with Dr Bettany for the children to play together,” Lida Olsen said, trying to ignore the hostile glance of the awful, dowdy woman she’d argued with by the village green, and addressing all her remarks to the pretty sixteen-year old who had invited her in. “I’m Mrs Olsen and this is Christian and Jana, my own two.”

“Rix has had to go away… I think he’ll be back later this morning. The boys are in the garden, so your children could go out there as well?”

“I hope there’s nothing wrong,” Lida sat down on the sofa Daphne indicated and lit her cigarette. “I could take tjhe triplets to my own home if you’d like, Daphne. Do call me Lida, won’t you, darling.” She added a few words in Danish to her children and they went outside.

“I’ve just sent them to fetch the boys,” she added. “I shan’t stay. Please tell your brother I can keep them for the night if it will help.”

“That’s very kind of you,” Daphne said.

“That Olsen woman came round, saying you’d arranged for the triplets to go to play with her awful children,” Jane said, almost before the Bettanys had got through their front door.

“That’s right,” Rix replied, taking off his coat. Mary-Lou kissed Jane, who murmured some words of sympathy.

“I thought it best if they stayed here, in case they were wanted.” Jane continued.

“Fine,” Rix brushed away the explanation, concerned only for his wife. She had cried on the journey. “Thanks for coming over last night.”

“Your sister’s gone out to get milk and the boys are in the garden. I’ll go home now, if you don’t need me, Mary-Lou?”

*

The triplets were thrilled to have their mother back, and she spent most of the day with them, telling them about their grandfather, the stories her mother had told her and Clem and Tony when they had been young, and finishing with a watered-down version of his violent yet heroic death. The children listened enthralled and Mary-Lou wished she’d told them before.

They pored over the photographs of him, where he looked very young and very like his daughter, and asked eager, interested questions.

Daphne and Rix left them alone and went for a walk to Haylings. Several of the village lads were hanging around the village square as usual and some of them whistled at Daphne, who stared coolly back at them.

“I had the oddest phone call while you two were out,” Mary-Lou said, as they settled down to dinner. “It was for John.”

“John? My brother John?” Rix looked up, frowning. “What did they say?”

“Well, he asked to speak to John Bettany and so I said that he wasn’t here. He went on to say that John had given this number to contact him on and it was important, so he’d try later, but then he was cut off.”

“Strange. I thought John was out East.”

“No, he was in Portsmouth, he wrote to Mum and Dad,” Daphne chipped in. “He didn’t say anything about visiting you though. He said he was busy.”

“I’ll speak to the caller if he rings back,” Rix said, easily. “Maybe we could get down to Portsmouth for the day, I haven’t seen Jackie in two years or so.”

“I’m going to bed,” Mary-Lou said, closing her book. “Are you coming?”

“I’ll just finish writing this up – give me five minutes,” her husband replied, looking up briefly from his patient notes.

“You work too hard,” she murmured, kissing him as she passed. “Don’t stay up too long.”

“I won’t,” he smiled after her.

Ten minutes later, Rix finished and put his pen down, thinking about how quiet it was. Howells went to sleep early and all he could hear was the sound of the rain tapping against the window. The window was still open and he went to close it, yawning as he did so.

He paused, and stared out of the window for a few moments. He could have sworn he’d seen something – someone – move by the trees outside the house. Someone waiting – and watching.

Rix yanked the front door open, and completely heedless of the rain, went outside.

“What are you doing, standing out in the rain?” he asked, incredulously. “Come in, for Heaven’s sake…”

“Hello to you, too,” John said, but the cheerfulness in his voice was forced and unnatural. He was soaked and dressed in civilian clothes.

“How long have you been outside?” Rix demanded, taking his brother’s case and all but pushing him inside the house. “Everyone’s asleep… You can have a bath and get warm, then tell me. I’ll make you a hot drink… Here,” he handed over a towel, so John could dry his hair.

“Thanks,” John said quietly, he looked exhausted. “I’ve only just got here, I walked from Armiford.”

“Why didn’t you phone me? No, get warm and then tell me… You’ll stay the night?”

“Thanks,” John said, again, in the electric light he looked very pale. “I didn’t want to go to the Quadrant, not yet. I’m not cold, Rix, honestly.”

“You’re freezing, you idiot.” Rix smiled. “It’s good to see you. Have you got a long leave?”

“You could say that,” John gave a mirthless laugh.

Rix looked at him, unable to keep the worry out of his face. “You had a phone call earlier, someone was asking for you.”

“Bailey, probably, our medical officer.” John said, before lapsing into silence.

“Why would your medical officer phone?” Rix asked, as soon as John came out of the bathroom, in dry clothes.

John shrugged, “It’s procedure. I don’t know why. Sorry to get here so late.”

“You know you’re always welcome,” Rix changed tack, although he did so want to demand what was wrong. It was clear that something was upsetting his brother. John was still pale and he had lost weight.

“It’s a horrible night. It’s annoying, I’m supposed to be building a tree house for the kids and it rained most of the afternoon. They’ll be thrilled to see you, and so will Daph. We were thinking of coming down to Portsmouth to see you.”

“Is Daphne here?” John was fiddling with the cuffs on his shirt, in an almost compulsive fashion. He seemed very nervy. “I won’t stay long. Mother and Dad aren’t here, are they?”

“No, Daph’s only come to stay for a few weeks. How long have you got? They’d probably come up if they knew you were on leave. Maurice could drive them.”

“I’ll see them soon,” John said, half to himself.

“Want a drink?” his brother asked, casually, going over to the drinks cabinet for the whisky. “One of my patients gave me this, it’s a good one.”

“All right,” John said, without much interest, though he drained the glass quickly

Rix made most of the conversation, keeping it light with some of the more amusing anecdotes about the children. John smiled from time to time, but seemed content to sit in silence and listen.

“Have you hurt your arm?” Rix asked, noticing that John was still fiddling with his shirtsleeves.

“No.” John said, quickly.

“Well, I’m going to turn in. I’ve got morning surgery tomorrow, and my locum is arriving in the afternoon. We were going to go to Garnham, but now we’re not. Still, at least I can see something of the kids.” He yawned. “They wake up early, just to warn you, but I’ll try and keep them away so you can have a lie-in.”

“Good night,” John said, holding out his hand, “I do appreciate it, Rix, thank you.”

The next second he hissed with pain as Rix had took hold of his arm and forced his sleeve up, despite John’s struggling. His wrist was bandaged.

“What’s going on, Jack?” Rix demanded, the complete elder brother, trying to make a grab for John’s other arm, even as he knew he would see a similar dressing there.

“Get off me!” John’s eyes flashed fire.

“No. I want to know what’s going on and I want you to tell me now.” Rix was inflexible.

“You’re hurting me.” John seemed to be fighting to keep his composure, but after a brief internal struggle, he took a deep breath and allowed his brother to sit him down on the sofa. Rix let go of him.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I didn’t mean to be so rough. Can I see?”

John rubbed his eyes, then nodded, pulling the bandages off and revealing the deep cuts on his wrists.

“Oh, Jackie…” Rix realised that his brother had been serious, they were very deep and had been stitched not that long ago.

“I-I don’t want you to tell anyone. Please, Rix. I couldn’t bear it, everyone knowing and watching me.”

“Have you seen somebody? Who treated you?”

“I don’t know who found me, but Bailey stitched me up. My Captain saw me afterwards, they – I told them you were my next of kin and they put me on the train. I can’t go back.”

“Of course not, you can stay here as long as you need to. Didn’t they send someone with you? I don’t understand.”

“The doc said I’d been lucky. If I’d cut half an inch deeper they couldn’t have done anything. They gave me a blood transfusion.”

“How do you feel now?” Rix felt completely out of his depth.

“I’m not going to do it again, if that’s what you want to know.” John’s reply was sharp.

Rix didn’t say anything else as he bandaged John’s wrists, but he did offer sleeping tablets. The dark shadows under John’s eyes told their own story, and when John refused, he did something he’d decided never to do, his uncles’ trick of slipping them into a hot drink.

“Wake me up if you need anything,” he said, as John got into bed, before saying goodnight.

“You were a long time,” Mary-Lou murmured as he got into his own bed, next to her.

“John’s here,” he spoke in an undertone. “I’ll tell you why tomorrow, but don’t ask him, will you?”

“No,” she was half-asleep and not listening, he sighed and tried to follow her example, but it was in the early hours when he finally closed his eyes.

*

“Daddy? Are you awake? Mummy said to tell you that breakfast was ready.” Thomas climbed up on the bed and giggled when his father grabbed and tickled him. “Uncle John’s here, Daddy!”

“I know.” Rix sat up, remembering and dressed hurriedly. “And I’ve got morning surgery, blast. I might not have time for breakfast.”

“Blast,” Tom echoed, happily. “Can I see Jana today please?”

“Maybe tomorrow,” Rix said, thinking of John. “I’m going to phone your Uncle Frank later and see if he can drive over. Then you can play with Jonathan.”

“He’s too little to play properly.” Tom said, but subsided. He wasn’t as argumentative as his brothers, who were sitting on either side of John at the breakfast table. John looked up as Rix came into the kitchen, but didn’t speak.

Mary-Lou came over with porridge for the triplets. “Dilys just came round to say that your first patient cancelled her appointment, so you don’t need to rush. John, would you like some more toast?”

“No thanks,” John replied, his usual ready smile noticeably absent.

“What do you think?” Rix asked Francis Rayner. He had telephoned privately from the surgery, leaving John with Mary-Lou, and given him the few facts that he knew for sure. He knew Frank would keep it to himself.

“I can see why you’re worried, but coming to you is a positive step. Did he say why he did it?”

“No, he won’t talk to me. I’ve tried, but I don’t want to make things worse. I’ve got no experience with this kind of thing…”

“He’s your brother, not some case study,” Frank said, but his tone was kind. “Try and talk to him again, you don’t need to find out what happened, just make sure that he knows he can speak to you if he wants to.”

“I think he needs to speak to someone in confidence. Do you know anybody?” Rix was impatient in his worry for his brother.

“Well, what about Lyndhurst? He’s a psychologist.”

“A child psychologist.” Rix was dismissive.

“Not always. I think he would be your best bet. You’re still in touch with him, aren’t you?”

“Not really.” Not since I said those things to him after Peggy’s funeral, Rix thought. Daniel had been civil since, on the few occasions they had met, but there had been a new distance. Still, for John, he would ask him.

“Hello! Are you here to see Auntie Joey, I mean Mrs Maynard?”

“Yes,” he paused and looked down at the sturdy ten year-old girl with the fair pigtails, sat on the steps of Plas Gwyn. “I’m her nephew.”

“Are you David, Josette’s brother?” she asked, eagerly.

“No, I’m her cousin, Rix Bettany.”

“Oh I know! You’re Peggy’s brother,” she beamed up at him, “I met Peggy last week. I’m going to go to the Chalet School next week, when term starts.”

“Good for you. Is Auntie Jo in?” He was in a hurry to speak to his aunt and he never had much time for Josette’s friends as a rule.

“She’s with Mother, they sent me outside to play, but Anna’s taken the triplets and the boys to the village. I’m Mary-Lou Trelawney and I’m ten.”

“Oh, right. I’d better not go barging in if she’s got a visitor.”

“”Mother won’t be long, we’ve got to go to Armiford on the bus to buy my uniform and the bus is in fifteen minutes,” she informed him in her self-possessed way.

“Okay,” he said down next to her, with a suppressed sigh. “I’d better wait then. Want some toffee?”

“What are you thinking about?” she asked, as he turned into the lane that led to Plas Gwyn.

“When we met. D’you remember?”

“Of course, we were in the Savoy.”

“No, when we were kids. It was here, you were sat outside Plas Gwyn. I was going back to school and I’d come to say goodbye to Aunt Joey. You ate all my sweet ration.”

She smiled and put her hand into his. “I do remember.”

 

#4:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:20 pm

They weren’t the only ones out walking. John had got quite far along the Haylings road, barely noticing the scenery around him. Much as he adored his sister and young nephews, it was exhausting to spend time with them and he was tired, despite sleeping better than he had for days.

The medical officer had phoned earlier that morning, luckily after Rix had started his surgery hours. John didn’t think he would phone again, but he wasn’t sure. He hadn’t seemed satisfied with some of the answers John had given. John ran the conversation over and over in his mind, wishing he had found better words.

“I’ve put in a recommendation that you have eight weeks’ leave, then I’ll review your case. Commander Lawton wasn’t very happy, but the Captain’s agreed. However – do you want to come back?”

No. “I don’t know.”


“Well, you’ve got eight weeks to decide. How are things there? Did you say you’re staying with your brother?”

“I’m fine. Yes I am.”

“Good. Maybe I should talk to him?

“He’s not here… I don’t know.”

“Lieutenant… John, listen to me, I don’t know what’s going on, but I’d like to help you, if you’ll let me. Anything you tell me will be in confidence.”

It was worse when Bailey was being nice, but John knew that if he told him, he couldn’t keep it confidential.

“I’ve been under a lot of strain,” he said, wondering how little he could get away with. “I was drunk and well, it seemed like the only thing I could do. I realise now, that it was stupid. It won’t happen again.” He could hear the insincerity in his own voice.

“What strain?”

“My promotion,” he said, closing his eyes. It wasn’t true. He had worked hard to earn it and had been proud of it, but now it didn’t matter. “I don’t think I was quite ready for it,” he muttered.

“Really,” Bailey was sceptical. “I won’t ask you again, you’re obviously not going to tell me, but… If you’ve got a problem so serious that trying to commit suicide seems the only way out, John, then think of others who might also be in the same situation.”

“I’ve got to go.” John controlled himself with a huge effort.

“Telephone me if you need to talk,” Bailey had hung up first.

Now he continued down the lane, trying to stop thinking and clear his mind. He could count his blessings, as Auntie Madge had told them to do when they were children.

The sun is shining. I slept better last night that I have in months. I used to be happy when we lived in Armishire, he thought, but it didn’t really help.

I’m with Rix and Daphne. That was better. He had missed his family terribly, but Rix was already asking questions that were hard to evade answering.

He looked up as he heard the sound of voices and frowned. It was a dark-haired woman with two children, and she looked vaguely familiar.

“Good morning,” she said, with a pleasant smile. “Isn’t it a beautiful day?”

“Good morning,” he replied, politely.

“Do you know the area?” she asked. “I’m afraid I may be lost. We went to pick strawberries at the farm. I need to get back to Howells Village. Do you know it?”

He nodded and pointed. “It’s just down the road, you can just about make out the church spire – see?”

“Do you live there? I haven’t seen you around the village. We’ve just moved here.”

He didn’t really want to talk, but at least if he answered her questions, he didn’t have to think about anything else. “I’m staying with my brother and his wife. Just for a week or so. I got here yesterday.”

“You know your way around though.” She smiled at him.

“I used to live just outside Armiford when I was a kid.” He took her basket of strawberries and walked alongside her, back to the village. When he told her his name was Bettany she paused.

“I expect you know my brother,” he continued. “He’s got three boys about your daughter’s age.”

“Yes… Yes, I know him,” she smiled at him, a genuine, warm smile. “I used to go to your aunt’s school. It was at Plas Howell, wasn’t it? The Chalet School. Yes. I wasn’t there for long.”

When he didn’t reply, she pressed on. “I knew your sisters – well, they were older than me, except Maeve. Are you her twin brother?”

“No, I’m John, I’m older than Maeve.” He tried to relax, and just about managed it. She was only a casual acquaintance; she had been to the Chalet School. Maybe she had come to the Round House or Plas Gwyn and he had met her there. He had met so many schoolgirls when he was younger. “Do you keep in touch with her?”

“No, I haven’t kept in touch with anyone,” she was frowning now, and it spoiled her beauty. “I hated it there.”

Despite himself, he was interested. He hadn’t realised that anyone could hate his aunt’s school. Mary-Lou and his sisters and cousins never stopped talking about how much they had loved it.

“Why?” he asked.

“I didn’t have any friends there. I was bullied, the other girls were awful to me,” she lowered her voice so her children wouldn’t hear. “I used to look at the popular girls and wish I was like them. I didn’t have any choice though, my parents were abroad and my aunt and uncle thought I should go away to school. I went to join my parents eventually, thank goodness. Did you like your school?”

“It was all right,” he shrugged. “My parents wanted me to join the Navy, so I went to Dartmouth when I was twelve.”

“Didn’t you have any choice?” she asked, sympathetically.

“Well, it was what I wanted to do at twelve.” He’d thought about it a lot over the past few weeks, realising how much he had changed over the past fifteen years.

The walked in silence the rest of the way, and when they reached her cottage, she invited him in for tea. He accepted, not really wanting to, but it was good to have a conversation with someone who didn’t look at him with concern.

*

“Where did you go?” Rix asked, almost before he was through the door.

“Just for a walk. It hasn’t changed round here since we were kids, has it? Remember when you and David and I used to walk up to the San?”

“Yes,” Rix thought guiltily how he and David had always tried to avoid having John tag along after them. “I do one day a month up at the San now. How are you feeling?”

“Fine.”

“Good… That’s good. Do you remember my friend, Dan Lyndhurst? He was my best man.”

“I didn’t go to your wedding.”

“No, but you went to Maeve’s. He’s Freddie’s cousin.”

“I think I know him – vaguely.”

“I thought you could talk to him. What do you think? He might be able to help you. It would be just between you and him – he wouldn’t report to me, or anything.”

“How could he help me?”

“Just – I don’t know. I just thought it might help, to have someone independent to talk to?”

“Does he know that I tried to kill myself?” John’s stare was confrontational.

“I haven’t told him anything, only if he would be willing to talk to you. He said it was your decision.”

“All right. I’ll meet him.” John concurred. “Only to get you off my back,” he added, with a faint smile.


“Where am I going, sir?” Harry Lloyd asked, as he steered the powerful car through the winding country lanes, driving a little too fast as usual.

“Howells, apparently there’s a village square with a pub and you should turn left there. The house is next to a meadow.” Daniel was nervous, and inclined to snap at his young chauffeur, but Harry was good-natured and didn’t worry about it.

“OK,” Harry replied, cheerfully. He was enjoying himself, he didn’t often get to drive out this far and it was such a lovely day. “Could that be it?” He braked sharply, spraying gravel. “I’ll go and ask. You wait here, Dr Lyndhurst.”

He dashed off, and was soon back. “Yes, it’s Carn Beg, and the doctor’s surgery. I spoke to his receptionist, ‘cos he’s with a patient, but she said Mrs Bettany is home.”

“Thank you,” Daniel went to find Mary-Lou.

“I was sorry to hear about your father,” he told her, over tea. “It must’ve been a huge shock.”

“It was… I alternate between wishing my mother were still alive to know we can give him a proper burial, and being glad that she isn’t. Mr Cameron is going to find out exactly how his father died, but I don’t know if I want to know what Father went through.”

“Will you go out there?”

“I don’t know… Oh, here’s Rix now, with the children. Boys, you won’t remember your Uncle Daniel, will you?”

“It’s good to see you.” Rix said. “This is my brother, John. He’s staying with us for a while, aren’t you? John, Dan’s staying for dinner.”

“Nice to meet you.” But John wouldn’t make eye contact and before long, he had left the room.

“I wanted him to talk to you,” Rix said, despondently.

“There’s plenty of time,” Daniel replied, calmly. “I’ll talk to him at dinner. Don’t put any pressure on him. He thinks I’m here to see you, after all.”

“I suppose that’s true.”

“It’s better, believe me,” and Daniel turned to talk to the children.

John had gone into the garden, to smoke until he felt calmer. It was a trial to meet new people and have normal conversations. Lida Olsen had been the first person to whom he had found himself actually being able to open up even a tiny amount.

*

Alexander had kicked his brother under the dinner table and had been sent to bed early in disgrace. His brothers had been told they could play outside for another hour and Daphne had gone to watch them, leaving the four adults to talk.

“Where did you go this morning for your walk, John?” Mary-Lou asked. She had made an enormous effort to include him in the dinner conversation, not at all rebuffed by his terse replies.

“Not very far. I met Mrs Olsen – Lida,” he added, turning to Rix. “We had coffee.”

It was the longest sentence he had spoken that evening.

“That’s nice, did you meet the kids?” Rix said, encouragingly. “They play with ours sometimes.”

“She told me. Did you keep in touch with her from school?” he asked Mary-Lou, who shook her head.

“She’s not a Chalet School girl, is she? I thought she was Danish. I don’t think I knew any Danish girls at school.”

“No, she’s English… Haven’t you met her?” Rix asked. “She didn’t tell me she went to the Chalet School, but I’ve only met her a few times.”

“She said she didn’t like it there.”

“How could she not have liked it?” Mary-Lou was taken aback. “It’s a wonderful school. You must be mistaken, John – or perhaps she went to that ghastly place in Tanswick. What did you say her name was – Lida? No, I don’t remember any Lida.”

 

#5:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:20 pm

“I might have made a mistake,” John backed down at once.

“You must have done,” Mary-Lou retorted. “The only people who were unhappy at school – well, it was their own faults.”

“I didn’t think anyone liked school,” Daniel said, trying to lighten the tone, one eye on John, who had gone quite white at the confrontation, minor though it was. It was interesting, because it told him a lot.

“It seems so long ago. Right, I’m going upstairs to talk to that that bad child. Are you coming?” Rix saw an opportunity to leave Daniel to talk to John alone, and Mary-Lou nodded and went with him. John lit another cigarette and rubbed his temples and Daniel hastily sought the right words to use.

“You and Richard are close,” he eventually observed, in a detached way.

John looked up, as if he had only just remembered that Daniel was there. “I suppose so,” he said. “I mean, he’s my brother, I don’t remember not having him there.”

“Were you as close when you were children?”

“Not really. I’m a lot younger and anyway, he had Peggy, and David. Bride had Peggy too. They didn’t like Sybil or me tagging after them. But that was years and years ago,” he added, quickly. “I felt the same way about Maeve and Maurice, I’m sure.”

“Sure. I’ve never really understood the dynamics of families,” Daniel fibbed, having devoted a significant part of his professional life to the subject. “I don’t have any brothers or sisters myself. Have you a long leave?”

“Eight weeks. My ship’s going out in October.”

“Where are you going?” Daniel asked, noting how tense John looked.

“I’m not supposed to say, but we’re going to the Middle East, it’s just a precautionary measure in case there’s any further trouble out there. I don’t know… I’ve not been too fit recently, so they might not want me back for a while. I’m not sleeping very well.” John confessed. “You can’t take sleeping tablets when you’re at sea – my crew might need me.”

“You’re not at sea now though – and everything looks better after a night’s sleep,” Daniel said, reassuringly.

“I suppose…” John broke off as Rix and Mary-Lou returned.

“Do they fight like that a lot?” Daniel asked, referring to the triplets.

“All the time, I’m hoping it’ll stop when they go to school in September and meet other children. Apart from the Olsens, there really aren’t any others their age in Howells and it would be good for them to mix with other kids.”

“I really must meet Lida Olsen,” Mary-Lou said, with a glance at John. “I could go round tomorrow morning. We could go together, John, if you liked, and take the boys.”

*

Daniel hadn’t stayed very long after that. John hadn’t thought about him since – just one of Rix’s friends – but he had found himself following his advice and swallowing the tablets that he had asked Rix for, and a consequence waking up the next morning with a feeling that the unrelenting greyness had lessened slightly.

“Are you all right?” Rix asked, from the doorway, a few moments later. “I thought I heard you moving around.”

“Yes – thanks.” John looked over at him, then at his watch. “You’re up early, it’s only just past six.”

“This is late for the kids. I’m feeding them at the moment, did you want anything? I want Mary-Lou to lie in, she’s more upset about her father than she realises. That’s probably why she snapped at you last night. She didn’t mean it, you know.”

“I know.”

“Peg used to be the same, she’d never listen to a word of criticism against Auntie Madge’s school, remember?”

“Rix, I’m not upset. I probably did make a mistake. I only spoke to the woman for half an hour or so.” John pulled on his clothes, frowning. “Maybe it wasn’t the best idea for me to come here. I hadn’t realised about her father.”

“Where will you go?” Rix asked, “To the Quadrant?”

“No – I could go to London. I’ve got a friend who’d let me stay.”

“We want you to stay with us.”

“I’m in the way.”

“Don’t be ridiculous, it’s nice to have someone to talk to. It’s so quiet round here though, you must be finding it boring.”

“No, it’s peaceful. It’s probably what I need. But tell me when you want me to go, all right?”

“All right. Now, have you told Mother and Dad you’re here?”

John shook his head. “They’ll want me to come to the Quadrant and I can’t face it. Not yet.”

“We’re going at the end of the month, just for a week. You don’t need to come with us, you’re welcome to stay here. My locum’s staying in Haylings and travelling in apparently. You wouldn’t be disturbed.

“I’ll think about it. Would I fit in the car if I did come with you?”

“If you don’t mind squashing in with Daph and the kids – or David was making noises about coming with us. I’ll phone him later.”

“I’ll think about it,” John repeated, shying away from these definite plans.

“OK. I won’t tell them you’re here.”

“Will I have the stitches out by then?” John asked abruptly.

“Probably. Let’s have a look.”

John was silent while his brother changed the dressings and inspected the stitches.

“How did you do it?” Rix asked, wanting to understand.

“I – I took the blade out of my razor. I don’t think I can talk about it.” If Rix hadn’t been holding his arm, John would have escaped rather than discuss it, as it was he could only avoid eye contact.

“Didn’t you think how we’d all feel?” Rix shook his head, in exasperation. “No, I’m sorry. I’m just worried about you, Jack. Would you talk to someone about it?”

“There isn’t anyone to talk to.”

“I mean a doctor.”

“That was why you invited Dr Lyndhurst round for dinner remember. You’ve told him, haven’t you?”

“No – yes – well, sort of. You could talk to him, couldn’t you? I’m sure he’d be able to help.”

“Does he know? He must do, he was asking all those questions about whether or not we were a close family. You could have told me you’d told him what I did.”

“I wanted to get him interested so he’d help you. I’m sorry.”

“I don’t need help.”

“Stop being so selfish,” Rix allowed his worry to turn into anger. “This is pathetic, John. You can’t mope around like this for the rest of your life. Go and see Dan and talk to him, or I’ll tell Dad what’s going on.”

*

Lida grimaced when she couldn’t close the zip on her skirt. It wasn’t that she didn’t want a new baby, she told herself, grimly, it was just that it was a bad time. She’d been so careful – but anyway, it was done and she didn’t have the slightest intention of undoing it.

She hoped it would be another girl, Christian’s behaviour was getting beyond a joke. Klaus should take charge of him, rather than hiding away in his study, his head in his books.

Lida missed the Institute, it had been such an honour to work there, especially as a woman and as a foreigner. Maybe she should try and write something, hadn’t Dr Bettany said that his wife wrote? And she had three children. Triplets. Lida frowned, remembering for the first time that Rix Bettany was Mrs Maynard’s nephew. Multiple births must run in families. Mrs Maynard had been nice to her, she supposed, when she had been so desperately homesick at school, although she had deliberately avoided her most of the time. Peggy Bettany had never been nice, always so quick to take the side of the more popular girls that had made Lida’s own school-life such a misery.

She remembered John. He had been pleasant, she supposed, although she had noticed his bandaged wrists. So even perfect Mrs Maynard’s perfect relatives had problems.

*

“Uncle John? What are you doing?” James asked, poking his head around the door. He was filthy, and his brothers were not much cleaner when they followed him in. Tom had a long scratch across his cheek and Alex’s clothes were torn.

“Packing.” John said, shortly.

“Are you leaving? But you’ve only just got here.” Alex’s face of disappointment was comical. John scarcely noticed.

“Why?” Tom asked.

“Because I am.” John pulled himself together. “I mean, I’ve got to go back to my ship.”

“Can we come?” Alex brightened up. “You said we could be your cabin boys, like in the stories.”

“And fight the pirates!” James made a move to jump onto the bed, but changed his mind. Mummy made awful fusses about mud and things. Besides, all Uncle John’s things were spread out on it, including an intriguing-looking small case.

John smiled, “There’s no pirates nowadays. It’s very disappointing.”

“Daddy said there were.” Alex countered, loyally. “He doesn’t tell lies.”

“Neither does Uncle John,” Tom squared up to his brother.

“There might be some, in the South Seas.” John said hurriedly to stop the argument. “I’ve never run into any, but I might do one day.”

“Can we come with you?” James persisted.

“Sorry, Jamie, it’s not possible,” John threw the last of his clothes into the case. “Run and play now and I’ll come and say goodbye before I go.”

“Where are you going really? Daddy said your ship was broken.”

“Well, I’ll go to London first and then to my ship.”

“Will you stay with Frank an’ Con?” Alex picked up the little case and tried to open it, with great interest, until his uncle took it gently from him. “What is it, Uncle?”

“My medals,” John hesitated, and opened the case to show the children. When their father came in, they had spread them out on the bed and were loudly admiring them. John had stopped packing and was smoking out of the bedroom window.

“Are you going, then?” Rix asked, shooing the children out of the room to wash for lunch. “I’m sorry.”

“No. You were right, I am selfish and pathetic.” I should have known that your friend was only talking to me because you asked him to, he thought, shoving his medals, that he had once been so proud of, back into their case.

“No you’re not. I’m an idiot. Come on, I’ll help you unpack and then we can go to Armiford. I said I’d take Daphne so she can buy clothes. I don’t see why I have to do something so torturous alone.”

John’s answering smile was quick and genuine.

*

“You’re not coming in with me, are you?” Daphne asked suspiciously in the car.

“You must be joking,” her brother replied. “No, we’ll dump you by the shops and head up to the San to say hello to David. I’ll park by the clock and we’ll walk down to meet you at four. Have you got enough cash?”

“Well, if you give me extra I can buy more clothes,” Daphne smiled, and both John and Rix produced their wallets.

“There – that’s your birthday and last Christmas. Don’t spend it all at once,” John said, sounding almost his old cheerful self.

*

“It’s good to see you,” David grinned, shaking his cousin’s hand. “It’s been far too long. How are things?”

“Fine,” John smiled back. “How’s the San?”

“Great – I’m really pleased. Even Dad can’t complain nowadays. Mother’s got a new bee in her bonnet though about me getting married. Every way I look she’s got women lined up for me. But I’m not complaining,” he finished, roguishly, making Rix laugh and John smile.

“Mother used to do that for you, John, remember? At least we could hide behind the pressures of medical training.” Rix said lightly, but changed the subject immediately when John looked uncomfortable.

“This is the last question I’ll ask, I promise,” he said later, as they strolled to the Copper Kettle in Armiford to meet Daphne. “It’s not over a woman, is it?”

“Yes, I got the Captain’s daughter into trouble,” John said, sarcastically. “I’ve been on active service for eighteen months, you fool.”

“They’re not worth doing yourself in over,” Rix said, ungrammatically, pausing to smile at an attractive young woman in her twenties as they entered the café. The next minute he had uttered an exclamation and grabbed her, none too gently, by the arm.

Last edited by Mia on Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:22 pm; edited 1 time in total

 

#6:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:21 pm

“Will you behave yourselves!” Lida snapped at Christian and Jana, as she headed up the lane towards Carn Beg. The children had been bickering all morning and she’d been terribly sick. Klaus had been no help, holed up in his study writing. She was in a thoroughly bad mood.

It was while she’d had her head down the lavatory that Klaus had answered the phone, and told her that Mrs Bettany had asked if she could call.

“No,” Lida had said, quickly. The house was such a disgusting mess, she couldn’t allow anyone to see it, let alone the doctor’s wife. “I’ll go and visit her, if that’s all right.”

Mrs Bettany had agreed, so now, here she was, on her way over with little enthusiasm.

Carn Beg had a large holly bush at the gate, Lida was spectacularly ill behind it.

“Mummy’s been sick!” Jana screamed in delight, dancing up the drive and into the house.

“Are you all right?” A voice, full of concern behind her. “You poor thing, do come into the house and sit down.”

“I’m fine, I’m terribly sorry…” Their eyes met and both stood there, rooted to the ground with shock.

“Mary-Lou Trelawney,” Lida said, resignedly. “I don’t believe it.”

Mary-Lou was open-mouthed as she surveyed her guest.

“Phil Craven!” she gasped.

*

“You’re embarrassing me!” Daphne seethed.

“Tough!” Rix was furious, as he propelled his little sister through the streets of Armiford to the car. John followed with the shopping bags, trying not to laugh as he thought of what had just happened.

Daphne, plastered in make-up, with her hair artfully styled in Armiford’s best salon and wearing her new clothes, looking nearly ten years older than she was, had been surrounded by admiring teenage boys, who had protested vociferously when Rix had ordered her to leave with them.

“Tell your dad you want to stay, Daph,” one boy had said, causing John to choke with suppressed laughter at his brother’s face of fury.

“I’m not a child,” Daphne fumed.

“You’re acting like one,” Rix retorted, grimly. “What’s Mother going to say? All those clothes are going straight back, Daphne, I mean it.”

“No!” Daphne shrieked. “It’s none of your business.”

“Good afternoon, Doctor,” three elderly ladies passed by, agog with curiosity at the scene. Rix was forced to smile and greet them, while John was able to persuade Daphne to get into the car.

*

“How are you feeling now?” Mary-Lou studied her guest, who had regained some colour. Jana and Christian had been sent into the garden to play with the triplets.

“A little better, thank you,” Phillida Olsen, née Craven, gripped her teacup, still feeling to poorly to move, let alone run away.

“How amazing to see you after all this time.” Mary-Lou said, trying to inject some enthusiasm into her voice. She had never been fond of Phil at school, and John’s words about how she had said she had been bullied were coming back to her and making her feel uncomfortable. She hadn’t bullied Phil Craven at school, she was sure of it, but they had had that awful fight in the common-room and she had never actively sought out the other girl’s company. In fact, if she was strictly honest with herself, she had actively avoided her.

Lida was spared having to reply, by the return of the still-furious Rix and the unrepentant Daphne, who immediately stormed off to her bedroom to gloat over her new purchases.

*

“It’s a shock,” Mary-Lou said frankly, as they dealt with the garden after Lida and her children had left.

“I know,” her husband retorted. “She’s barely sixteen and she’s dressing like a prostitute…”

“I meant seeing Phil Craven again,” Mary-Lou cut across him. “I say, she isn’t seriously ill, is she?”

“No, of course not.” Rix paused, before telling her that Phil was expecting.

“Daphne will be all right. Some of the clothes she bought aren’t too bad… and I’ll teach her how to apply make-up properly.” Mary-Lou said brightly.

“I’ll phone Geraldine first thing tomorrow morning,” he promised.

“We’ve been waiting so long though… Do you know how awful I feel when Jo writes suggesting we don’t leave it too long before having any more?”

“She shouldn’t do that - It’s none of her business.”

“Oh, she means well. John looked a bit better today,” Mary-Lou changed the subject.

“Are they really so awful?” Daphne paced around John’s tidy bedroom.

“Who?” John asked; looking up from the letter he’d been frowning over.

“My clothes,” Daphne said, forlornly, looking down at what she was wearing.

“No, of course not.” He crumpled the letter and gave her his full attention at last. “Ignore him, they’re fine.”

“Are you coming back to the Quadrant with us?” Daphne was pleased to find an ally. “You could teach me to drive on the estate.”

“We’ll see. I might have to go back to Portsmouth.”

“Why did you come here and not go home?” Daphne asked.

“I don’t know,” John admitted. “What else did you buy? Let’s see the worst.”

Smiling, she left him and he took the opportunity to rip his letter into tiny pieces and put them on the grate.





“I want to go in David’s car!” It was a united wail from the children.

“Well, you’re not. Get in,” their father ordered, exasperated. The triplets complained, but finally got into the back of the car. “Daphne, you’re coming with me too.”

“What fun,” Daphne muttered under her breath. She had kept up her black sulks over the past two weeks and had refused all friendly overtures from her brother and even Mary-Lou’s make-up and clothes advice. On the whole, John, thought, it was probably a good idea that they were going to the Quadrant. Mary-Lou had already left to go to London and stay with the Cameron family, who had invited her.

“You can come with me, John,” David said, amiably. “See you later, kids.”

David drove fast and they didn’t speak much. The wind took any words they spoke and tossed them away. The countryside flashed past. John rubbed his thumb over the scar on the inside of his right wrist, where he hadn’t cut so deeply as on the left. Rix had taken the stitches out the day before, so the mark was still red and noticeable. His left wrist was still bandaged. He would have to keep them hidden at the Quadrant.

“Wake up, Jackie-boy. We’re here, and Mummy will be waiting.”

Jackie rubbed his eyes and nodded, he had said very little on the long journey from Armiford to this huge old house by the sea. The father who had collected him from Auntie Madge’s house was a stranger, after all, despite the letters he had received every so often at the Cathedral School and the photographs that Auntie Madge had shown him.

“You’ll love it in Devonshire,” she had reassured, perhaps sensing his anxiety. “Aren’t you excited, dear? I know your Mummy and Daddy are. Shall we look at the letter they sent me? Oh look, there’s a photograph of us when we lived in Taverton. I don’t think Auntie Joey was very much older than you are now in this. And there’s Daddy – and me.”

“I’m nearly eleven,” Jackie had said, still hoping at that point that his aunt would say he could stay at the Round House forever. “Is the Quadrant in Taverton?”

“No, it’s on the coast. You’ll be able to go sailing, won’t you?”

“I could come here for holidays,” Jackie said, trying to smile.

“Oh, you’ll be having far too much fun for that, but - we could all come and visit you.” Madge added quickly, “Besides, you’ve got another year at the Cathedral School, haven’t you? Your uncle and I will still see a lot of you.”


“I’ll get your bags – you run up to the house and see Mummy. She’s dying to see you.” Daddy was watching him, quizzically. “And Second Twins as well, they shouldn’t be in bed yet.”

“OK,” Jackie muttered. The house loomed before him and he considered it; if not quite a prison, certainly a far cry from the cosiness of the Round House. “What’s that noise, please?”

“Noise? Oh – it’s the sea. The tide’s coming in, you know, and the waves are crashing against the rocks. It’s probably too dark for you to see now, but I’ll show you tomorrow morning.” Daddy smiled at him and reached out to ruffle Jackie’s light-brown curls. “We’ve got all the time in the world to explore, you know. I’ll take you and your brother out sailing, as well. You’ll enjoy that.”

“I’ve never been sailing,” Jackie said, smiling at last, much to his father’s relief. Whilst it had been a shock to see how all the children had grown, none so much as seeing the baby they’d left turn into this rather quiet and independent little boy.

“We’ll have a great time here,” Dick grinned back, “Now come and see Mummy – she’s dying to see you.”

“Have you hurt yourself?” David asked, as they were lifting their bags out of the car. John followed his glance and saw that the bandage was poking out of his left sleeve.

“It’s nothing,” he replied.

“Sprain? Here, I’ll take your bag. They don’t know you’re coming do they? You’ll be the star turn.”

A mistake, John thought, tugging at his sleeve. His first mistake had been to come with David, the fast little red car had eaten up the miles and they had left the others far behind them. He should have travelled with Daphne, whose new clothes would be a distraction, and the triplets who always drew his parents’ attention. Now, walking in behind David, he knew he would get the full force of their concentration and they might ask questions he could not answer.

As they entered the drawing room, however, only Maurice was there, dozing on the chesterfield with the kitchen cats curled up with him. At the sight of the intruders, they dashed out of the room.

“Hello – John, hello!” Maurice sat up. “It’s good to see you. And you too, David.”

“Where are Auntie Mollie and Uncle Dick?” David sat down and stretched his long legs. John hovered in the doorway, wondering if he could escape to his bedroom.

“They’ve gone somewhere with Maeve and Freddie and Dr Lyndhurst. They’ll be back for tea, they said. How are things, John? How long have you got?”

“Just a few weeks. I’m going to take my stuff upstairs and then go for a walk.”

“We could go swimming,” David suggested. “You'll come, Maurice, won’t you?”

“I’d better not.” John was thinking of the stitches and how Rix had told him to avoid getting them wet.

“You must be mad, it’s a gorgeous day.” David said, before he paused, “Oh I’d forgotten about your wrist.”

“What have you done to yourself?” Maurice asked.

“It’s – it’s a sprain.” John hated having to lie, but Maurice seemed satisfied. He left them and went up to his room, to throw himself onto the window seat and stare out at the sea below.

“Play nicely with your cousins,” Rix instructed the triplets, who were wild with delight to be at the Quadrant, where they could roam around and have adventures, but considerably less thrilled that four year-old Lucy and three year-old Annabelle were also present. Auntie Maeve’s daughters were younger and didn’t like getting wet or dirty, so the boys were rightly scornful of them.

Rix left them alone, and went over to see where John was. He was sandwiched between Mollie, who was fussing over him, and Mary, the vicar’s youngest girl, who had never married. John’s replies were monosyllabic. Rix decided to step in.

“I’m going to teach the kids to swim,” he said, once he had manoeuvred his brother away. “Do you mind giving me a hand? We can direct from the beach. It’s going to be a lovely day tomorrow. I’m going to take your stitches out tonight and then it should be fine. It’s healing well. Your MO did a good job, you know.”

“All right.”

“Dad’s already asked me twice what’s wrong with you. Can’t you try and look a bit more cheerful? It’s only a tea party.”

“It’s pathetic.” John glanced over at his mother, who was still talking earnestly to Mary.

“You know what she’s like. Look, why don’t we go into the garden and see what the kids are up to?”

*

Daniel Lyndhurst watched them go, but decided not to follow. He had decided not to take John as a patient, and was wondering how to tell him.


“Are there pirate caves under the cliff?” Alex asked, as they ate the picnic on the cliff above the sea. Rix and John had spent the morning instructing the triplets how to swim and now David and Daphne, her sulks forgotten for the moment, had joined them for lunch.

“Oh, yes, hundreds.” David said, at once. “And did you know the phantoms of the pirates still creep through them at night whenever there’s a full moon? And the ghostly galleon waits at the water’s edge…”

“Knock it off,” Rix sat up and glared at him. “They’ll have nightmares.”

“I’m not afraid of ghosts, they aren’t real.” Alex said scornfully. “Are there really caves?”

“Smugglers’ tunnels, I think.” John said. “I’ll show them to you when you’re older.”

“Can’t you show me now, please, Uncle? Please…”

“The tide’s come in too far, so I can’t.” John stretched, lazily. “They’re not going anywhere.”

“Are there really ghosts?” Thomas whispered, moving closer to his father.

“Of course not, he was only joking. Jamie, come away from the edge, now, please.”

James moved over reluctantly. “I wanted to see the tide – it’s come right in and covered up all the rocks,” he explained. “We could dive couldn’t we?”

“It’s not particularly safe. There are rocks down there. People have died diving from this cliff.”

“Have you been in the caves, Daddy?”

“Once – with your mother.” Rix smiled. “That was an adventure I could have done without. No, you’ll have to wait a few years before you can go in them – and don’t even think about sneaking off on your own to find them.”

“Where do they lead?” David asked, interested, but John was staring into the distance and frowning.

“John?” David persisted.

“Is that someone coming?” John asked, pointing. The others squinted over, but lacked John’s sharpness of sight.

“It’s probably Maurice,” Rix lay down again, “he said he’d join us if he could. Jamie, I’m not telling you again. Come and sit here by me.”

Last edited by Mia on Fri Apr 14, 2006 5:53 pm; edited 2 times in total

 

#7:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:22 pm

It was Daniel, John eventually realised, walking carefully along the cliff path. He sighed and started to gather his things together. He didn’t like Daniel and he wasn’t looking forward to starting the sessions that Rix had bullied him into having.

“It’s Lyndhurst,” he said, eventually. “I’m going for another swim.”

“You’ve only just eaten,” Rix said at once, as if John were the same age as the children.

“I’ll be fine.” John looked at his untouched plate, the food spoiling in the hot sun.

“Hello,” Daniel said, approaching them with a smile. John noted this friendly smile and the way the others greeted him; he also noticed that Daniel’s eyes went immediately to the scars on his wrists, uncovered by his shirt, but so far unnoticed by David or the children and it annoyed him, that he should be classified in this way by his actions.

The boys immediately started to chatter to Daniel about the tunnels and John realised that he was blocking the path; he would have to ask him to move out of the way if he wanted to walk down to the now-submerged beach. He moved slightly over to the edge of the cliff and calculated.

It would be good to dive from the cliff’s edge, he had done it once before, when he was sixteen and it had come off spectacularly. His father had been angry once he had learned of it. John had pointed out that he had known the beach and the position of each rock, and he still did.

He undressed down to his bathing trunks. “I’m going down,” he said, easily.

Rix looked over, with a faint remembrance, and caught his expression. “No, you’re not,” he began, incredulous.

“I’ve done it before,” John pointed out, dismissively.

“What are you going to do?” David asked, but Daniel, who was quicker, looked at John with what he interpreted as just the tiniest amount of contempt. It put his back up and he turned to look down again at the churning sea below.

“He’s going to dive… John, stop it. Any idiot can see it’s not deep enough. You’ll hurt yourself.” Rix stepped forward.

“You are not!” David whistled. “It’s forty feet and you can’t see the rocks anymore.”

“Is that a dare?” John asked, carelessly.

David grinned, “All right. You won’t do anything so stupid.”

John smiled back and dived.




“Stay back from the edge,” Rix ordered, pushing the children over to Daphne, and approaching to look down, more frightened that he cared to admit. David was open-mouthed.

“I didn’t think he’d do it,” he said, shaking his head in disbelief.

“He’s an idiot.” Rix said, grimly. “And you’re another,” he said, rounding on David. “Can’t you see what kind of mood he’s in?”

“He’s bloody mad,” David said.

Rix swore, forgetting the children and Daphne standing behind. “Come on, come on, where are you?” he murmured, half to himself.

“There – see?” Daniel joined them, and pointed. “You can just about make him out.” He was frowning.

“I’m going down.” Rix said, making for the path.

John battled with the current, which seemed determined to throw him against the rock face, as usual. He was a strong swimmer and unafraid, but the euphoria of the dive hadn’t lasted. He glanced up and saw the three small figures on the edge of the cliff, looking down at him.

He felt exhausted and his scars hurt, some moments of hard swimming later, he reached the pathway, partially-covered by the incoming tide and reached for Rix’s outstretched hand.

“I’m sorry,” he said.

*

Nothing had been said. John had dressed and gone back with them to the Quadrant. Rix had turned the conversation to some other subject and not even the children had mentioned what had happened.

Daniel had stayed for dinner, but sat on the other end of the table from John. He had spoken mainly to Dick and Mollie and left shortly afterwards. David had driven him in the little red sports car.

“Are you going out?” Rix asked, catching him by the door.

“I was just going to have a smoke,” John replied.

“Can I join you?”

“Sure. Look, I am sorry about this afternoon, I don’t know why I did it. It was just an impulse.”

Rix frowned and lit his own cigarette. “It was a mad thing to do,” he remarked.

“Maybe I am mad. Bailey thinks I am, didn’t you know?” John’s tone was flippant.

“Dan’s recommended someone you can talk to, in London. If I got you an appointment, would you speak to him?”

“I thought you wanted him to talk to me himself.”

“No, he can’t do it. He’s too busy and it’s not his field.” Rix sighed. “Look, Jackie, I don’t want to upset you, but why are you being like this? Why are you so unhappy? If you told me, I might be able to help you.”
“I’m fine,” John said, feeling the traitorous tears fall down his face. He rubbed at them, angrily. “Don’t call me that.”

“OK, I’m sorry. But we can talk, can’t we? We always could before.”

John looked at him, and shook his head. “There’s nothing wrong,” he said, regaining his self-composure.

“I might understand,” Rix continued, but knew it was futile to press him.

*

“What’s going on with John? Do you know?” David asked, as he coasted down the never-ending drive of Daniel’s family home. He had never been there before, and was impressed by the size of the grounds, although they did need work. He wondered what the house was like. He had known Rix’s friend for years, but didn’t really know anything about him. David privately thought he was both supercilious and boring.

“No, I don’t.” Daniel replied, in his usual polite, but detached manner. “Is there something wrong?”

“I’ll say! Are you blind? He moped around all yesterday, didn’t say a word, and I don’t know what got into him this afternoon. I never thought he’d dive like that, did you? I was only joking.”

“Is it so out-of-character?” Daniel asked.

“Well…” David shrugged. “To be honest, he was always quiet, you never noticed if he was in the room or not. But Rix seems bothered about him, and I did notice he was drinking more than usual. I say, you must have acres here.”

“A few,” Daniel said, tersely.

“You’ve got that place on Eaton Square too, don’t you? I remember going round there when we were students. Remember that awful bedsit Rix had in Stepney? It seems to long ago now.”

“Quite. Actually, if you’ll drop me here, I’ll walk the rest of the way. Thanks very much for the lift.”

“Oh – OK.” David had wanted to see the house, but Daniel’s polite yet forbidding tone made him pull over. “No problem. See you soon.”

“See you.” Daniel waved, and walked the last half-mile to the house, deep in thought.



Rix woke, in the throes of a nightmare, and sat up, groping for the bedside lamp, trying to shake the images of John’s body, lying lifeless on the beach. He wondered when John had dived before, how often and most importantly, why he would want to do such a dangerous thing now he was older.

He thought he heard a noise outside, and got out of bed to investigate. The corridor was clear, however, and John’s light was still on.

He knocked, quietly, and went in. John was in bed, reading a book from the library downstairs.

“I thought I heard a noise. It’s late.”

“Couldn’t sleep.” John wasn’t going to mention his frequent nightmares. “I didn’t hear anything.”
“Probably just the house settling. Do you want sleeping tablets? I don’t want to prescribe too many though, until you see what this doctor in London will do for you.”

“Will you come with me? Not – not to see him, but to London. Would you mind?”

“Of course not,” Rix said at once. “I’ll sort it all out. I do want to help, you know.”

“I know. It’s just sometimes, I don’t know, I just can’t seem to think straight, you know? I can’t switch my brain off.” John frowned. “I mean, I’m not hearing voices or anything like that. I thought it would be different if I left Portsmouth, but…”

The sound of a door slamming made them both start.

“Could it be the kids?” John asked, getting out of bed. “Midnight feasting or something.”

“No, they generally stay put… I’ll check on them.” Rix frowned.

*

Thomas had gone from his bed, while the other two slept soundly.

“Where on earth can he be?” Rix asked, in an undertone.

“That was the kitchen door. He might have gone to get a drink of water,” John replied.

They made their way downstairs, as quietly as possible, but Tom wasn’t in the kitchen.

“We’ll split up,” John said, “Don’t worry, he can’t come to any harm. He’ll never be able to open the front door, and the kitchen door’s bolted too. I wonder if he might be sleepwalking.”

“I was thinking that,” Rix admitted. “It’s not like him to be out of bed – if he’s ill or has a nightmare, he’ll come to us. I checked my room, he wasn’t there.”

After some long moments of anxious hunting, they found Tom in the dining room, fiddling in vain with the window, despite being fast asleep.

“Come on, Tommy,” Rix said, gently. “Let’s go back to bed.”

“The ghosts might come in the window,” Thomas muttered.

“Ssh, the window’s fastened,” his father said, which seemed to get through.

“I’ll settle him – he can come in with me – and then I’ll come back.” Rix said, picking the child up. “I’m sorry – I know we were talking, but I need to see to him.”

“No – it’s fine. Goodnight.” John went back to his own room.

 

#8:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:22 pm

As soon as it became light enough, he washed and dressed and decided to go for a long walk. It promised to be a beautiful day and he had letters to write that he would prefer to tackle in private. He thought briefly of the letter he’d left in the fireplace of his Carn Beg bedroom. Well, he couldn’t answer that one.

Maurice would be up at this time, and possibly his father too, but John decided to avoid the farm and the cliffs. He vaulted the gate and headed across Exmoor.

He walked for miles, not caring where he wandered. Eventually he settled, lit his cigarette and uncapped his pen with a sigh.

He wrote to Captain Walsh, whom he had always liked, he wrote to Commander Lawton whom he did not. He wrote to the Medical Officer who had managed to save his life and found the words to thank him. It was cathartic.

He didn’t seal the letters, intending to re-read before they were posted, but he addressed and stamped them with care, and put them back into his bag.

It was peaceful in the sheltered spot he’d found and he hadn’t slept properly for days. It was easy to doze off in the shade of the trees.

When he awoke, it was much later and the sun had gone behind a cloud.

Not wanting to lose himself on the moors in the dark – already the shadows were lengthening – he made his way to the main road, with the intention of hitching a lift if possible. He had remembered to leave a note, but his family might worry about his long absence. The early evening was becoming chilly and he was glad that he’d had the forethought to shove a jersey into his rucksack.

Once he reached the high road, he paused to get his bearings. Several feet away, the road forked three ways. The longest led back to the Quadrant and another reached Channing St Mary in a roundabout way. The third led to Candlebury, a tiny place that would nevertheless have a pub or a post office where he could telephone the Quadrant. One of his brothers would come and collect him by car, he mused, just as the clouds in the sky began to shower him with raindrops. Yes, he would go there, telephone and have a drink while he was waiting.

It took ten minutes and he was wet through when he arrived. The post office was closed, of course, but the St George and Dragon was open and he found that it was just after half-past eight.

“The telephone’s out of order,” the barmaid informed him.

“Oh – well thanks anyway.” John produced some coins from the pocket of his jeans, thankful that he had enough to cover the cost of his drink. “I don’t suppose you know where else I might phone?”

“Post office – but it’s shut at this time. Sorry,” she smiled at him. “You’re not from round here, are you?”

“I live about fourteen miles away but I’ve been away,” he was distracted, but polite. “Don’t worry about it. I’ll cope. Thank you.”

She smiled and handed over his whisky, then moved away to the other end of the bar. John drained his glass, thinking that he should set off before it became too dark, despite the still-pouring rain. He hoped that his mother wasn’t worrying about him. He ran his hand through his wet hair and took in his surroundings.

The pub was almost empty. Two elderly men stood at the bar and were arguing good-naturedly. The barmaid was pulling their pints for them and chipping in at intervals. He should go.

John put his glass on the bar and turned, to see Daniel Lyndhurst sat at the table behind him, just as Daniel looked up from his newspaper and noticed John.

“You’ve come a bit far for a drink,” Daniel observed. “Or did you drive?”

“I walked,” John replied. “I-I wanted to use the phone, but it’s down. I was walking on the moor but was out longer than I thought I’d be. How are you?”

“Fine, thank you.” Daniel folded up his paper. “And yourself? I’m just waiting for my driver to finish his visit in the village, then I’ll be out of your way.”

“I’m going,” John didn’t understand the edge to Daniel Lyndhurst’s voice, but he didn’t like it. “I’d better be back before it gets too dark. I’m sorry to have disturbed you,” he said, coolly.

“No, wait… I’m sorry. I was rude.” Daniel got to his feet, wincing a little. “Look, it’s miles back to the Quadrant and it’s pouring. Wait till Harry gets here and he can drive you back.”

“Thanks, but I’m soaked anyway. It’s only fourteen miles.” John said, before realising that Daniel’s set expression meant two things: that he was in pain and that the careless mention of John’s own ability to walk fourteen miles had been tactless. He hesitated; then sat down.

“Are you all right?”

“I will be. I’ve just had treatment in London – thank you. Why were you walking on the moor so late?”

John explained, produced a handful of change and gave a rueful smile. “I doubt I can run to anything more than a half of something but what are you drinking?”

“I’m fine, thank you. I don’t really drink.” Daniel indicated his pint, still fairly full. “I never think it’s a good idea to drink alone,” he added.

John looked squarely at him. “Is that a criticism?”

“In my professional experience, a cycle of self-destructive behaviour can be hard to break…”

“I’m not self-destructive. I told you why I was here. Not that it’s any of your business.”

The old men at the bar were turning to stare at them, but John didn’t care. “Besides, Rix told me you didn’t care to offer your professional experience, so I don’t care to hear it now. You can stick your lift home,” he continued, bitterly.

“You can’t walk home in that. Don’t – look, I didn’t mean you. I don’t drink because my father drank, OK?” Daniel lowered his voice. “And I can explain why I don’t think it was a good idea if I took you as a patient.”

John was about to reply when the door opened and Harry Lloyd, Daniel’s driver came in, dripping wet.

“The Bideford road’s flooded, sir, heard it on the radio at my mum’s house,” he said. “We should head back soon in case anything else happens. Some of the phone lines are down. I’ve never seen rain like this in July – it’s amazing.”

“What about the Channing St Mary road?” Daniel asked quickly.

“I don’t know. I could try it, but it would be hard going, and I expect they’ve closed it. The brook’s too full after all that rain in June. We don’t need to go up there though do we? It’s the opposite direction.”

“I’d better make a move then,” John said, stubbornly, but Harry interrupted him.

“The one road’s closed, sir and the other’s too dangerous in my opinion. I’ve lived in Candlebury all my life and the brook bursts its banks too easily when it’s like this. You’d be in trouble if it did. And there’s no moon, you couldn’t go across the moor. Look how dark it’s gone.” A loud peal of thunder added weight to his words.

 

#9:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:24 pm

and finally a new bit

John shivered as he made his way from the bathroom down the draughty corridor towards the bedroom to which Daniel had showed him. He was stuck in Lyndhurst’s house for the night. The rain was still crashing down outside and showed no sigh of abating.

He was still amazed at the size of the house, it was at least four times larger than the Quadrant, which he had always considered a big house. This had separate wings and miles of grounds. John had remembered the summers they had walked past the gates and wondered who lived there and the sight of it had partially roused him from his sulks.

“You can’t possibly live here,” he’d muttered, as they’d finally reached the front door.

“Well, I do,” Daniel had snapped back.

“It’s beautiful,” John said, looking around.

After dressing in the dry clothes that had been laid out for him, he went downstairs.

Daniel was in the corridor. “Is everything all right?” he asked. “Mrs Collins is going to dry your clothes. I phoned the Quadrant and said you were staying over, but the phone’s in here – do you want to use it?”

“It’s fine, as long as they know where I am. My mother worries over everything lately. It is a beautiful house, you know. We always wondered who lived here, but we didn’t think anyone did.”

“The drawing room’s warmer.” Daniel indicated it. “I suppose the house is mostly empty, I’m not here very often.”

“I meant when we were kids.” John sat down in front of the fire.

“It was empty then, I suppose. I went to live with my aunt and uncle when I was thirteen.” Daniel explained, before changing the conversation to the weather.

The housekeeper made supper and they ate mostly in silence. John was tired despite his sleep on the moors.

“So who’s this doctor you know?” he asked, once they were back in front of the drawing room fire.

 

#10:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:36 pm

Pleased to this again!

Thanks Mia. Laughing

 

#11:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 7:59 pm

Good to see this back Very Happy

Thanks, Mia

 

#12:  Author: Mrs Redboots, Location: London, UK PostPosted: Tue Apr 11, 2006 8:25 pm

Thanks, Mia.

 

#13:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 12:04 am

Thanks, Mia. It's great to see this back again. I wonder if Daniel is going to answer John's question.

 

#14:  Author: Identity Hunt, Location: UK PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 6:20 am

Oh goodie gumdrops, this is back !
Thanks, Mia !

 

#15:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 4:33 pm

“Oh – he’s very good. I’ve referred patients to him before. I think you’ll get on well. He used to work with Frank Rayner but he decided not to stay in surgery and now he’s in psychiatry.”

“Rayner? You mean Con’s husband? Does he know Rix then?”

“I don’t know. Does that worry you? It shouldn’t, Dr Forrest will respect your confidentiality, any doctor would.”

“No, it’s not that…” John drummed his fingers restlessly against the arm of his chair. “It’s just awkward sometimes. Rix’s friends…”

“You can see them making the comparison between the two of you,” Daniel said, with a great deal of insight. "Unfavourably?"

John became very still. “It’s not for me that I mind,” he said, eventually.

Last edited by Mia on Wed Apr 12, 2006 6:47 pm; edited 1 time in total

 

#16:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 5:24 pm

Oh. If there's stuff he doesn't want Rix's friends to know about, maybe he'd be better off seeing someone with no connection to his family.

If, indeed, there are any doctors anywhere who don't know any of the Russell/Maynard/Bettany clan - I'm sure EBD thought all doctors were somehow connected Laughing !

Thanks Mia - nice to see this back Very Happy .

 

#17:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 5:40 pm

Wondering if john will have to be referred to a doctor in deepest peru to ensure it's not someone known to the clans! Laughing

Thanks Mia.

 

#18:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 8:25 pm

*snuggles John*

Thanks Mia Very Happy

 

#19:  Author: Rosy, Location: Gloucestershire-London-Aberystwyth PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 9:31 pm

Poor John. Am glad that he is making progress. Thankyou!

 

#20:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 11:05 pm

Poor John, feeling that he is being compared to Rix...

Thanks Mia.

 

#21:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Wed Apr 12, 2006 11:17 pm

Thank you Mia! I have finally caught up! *g*

 

#22:  Author: Caty, Location: New Zealand PostPosted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 4:30 am

Glad to see this back Mia. Thanks

 

#23:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Fri Apr 14, 2006 10:16 pm

“I'm sure he doesn't think... No, I don’t see that. You’re not alike, obviously, but you couldn’t say you were less successful than your brother…”

“You don’t understand.”

“No, I probably don’t. Anyway, Dr Forrest and he aren’t friends as far as I know, they worked together years ago, that really is all. You don’t even need to say you’re related if you don’t want to do so, unless… it’s relevant in some way?”

“No.”

“He’s very good,” Daniel said again, before changing the subject completely.

*

Dr Forrest had written to John at the Quadrant and the letter was waiting for him as he returned the next morning. He was reading it when Rix and Maurice came into the drawing room, laughing together.

“There you are – everything OK?” Rix asked.

“Fine,” John stuffed the letter back into its envelope. “How’s Tom?”

“I’m worried about him, to be honest. He did it again last night – tried to, anyway. I was thinking if it might be worth taking him through those blasted tunnels to put his mind at rest.”

“I suppose…”

“Thanks. Have you heard about this London thing yet?”

“Friday. I can take the train if…”

“No, Friday’s good. We can stay with Con and Frank.”

“What London thing?” Maurice asked.

“Oh – medical board. Rix said he’d drive me up for it.” John swung his long legs up onto the chair.

 

#24:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:23 am

Thanks, Mia. I hope that Dr Forrest won't compare John to Rix.

 

#25:  Author: Eilidh, Location: Macclesfield PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:22 am

Thanks Mia, good to see more of this.

 

#26:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 11:30 am

Thanks for the comments Smile


“Lieutenant-Commander Bettany? Please, come in,” Dr Forrest smiled in a genuinely friendly way and shook hands. “May I call you John?” He was only young, David’s age, and had dark red hair.

John nodded and looked around the room, eventually sitting down on a handy chair. He ignored the couch. Toby Forrest produced a sheet of paper covered in Daniel Lyndhurst’s distinctive writing.

“What do you think you’ll achieve by talking to me?” he asked.

“I don’t know… I don’t really know what you’re going to ask me, to be honest. I’ve never had anything like this before.”

“We won’t go anywhere you’re not comfortable with… Dr Lyndhurst thinks you may have a certain type of depression. You may need medication to control it, which I can prescribe, but most people find that having someone impartial to talk to can help even more.”

“Are you going to send me for electrical shock therapy?” John asked, abruptly.

Dr Forrest looked up at him with surprise. “That’s very much a last resort. Dr Lyndhurst doesn’t recommend it for you. Do you know anything about it?”

John shook his head, “I didn’t know… what you were going to do to me.”

“We’ll talk for the next few sessions, then review. Anyway, tell me about yourself. You serve in the Royal Navy?”

John nodded, then proffered some modest details of his career. Forrest scribbled some notes, asked a few more questions and then offered coffee, which John accepted. He had relaxed a little, talking wasn’t so bad.

 

#27:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 12:11 pm

Oh good, this sounds quite hopeful.

Thanks Mia Very Happy .

 

#28:  Author: Becky, Location: Newport, South Wales, UK PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 1:05 pm

Hope John finds Dr Forrest helpful - thanks Mia Very Happy

 

#29:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 1:21 pm

Where on earth has he heard of ECT?

Thanks Alison.

 

#30:  Author: kimothy, Location: Glasgow PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 3:02 pm

this is really good!!
please post more Smile

 

#31:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 3:36 pm

Here comes the Easter stork Smile


“Where’s John then?” Con asked, as they had coffee in the Hampstead house. Rix was sat on the floor, playing with three year-old Jonathan who was building a tower of bricks. “And we thought you’d bring the kids.”

“Don’t know exactly what John’s up to. I’ve left the kids because Tom’s decided to go in for a bout of that old trick of yours.”

“What? Sleepwalking you mean?”

“Yes. I’m not sure really what we can do about it at the moment, except wait for him to grow out of it.”

“I think I was about sixteen… Dad used to give me a tonic, I think. It did taste awful. Poor little Tom.”

“I would have brought him, but then the other two would have clamoured to come as well. Mum and Dad are quite happy to have them overnight, so… Are you all right?”

“Oh fine… Baby’s kicking, that’s all. Come and have your milk, Jonathan.”

“Have you decided on any names?”

“Not yet, we’ve got a few possibilities, but … gosh, ow… Ow!”

“Ssh, it’s all right. Have you got your bag ready?” Rix laughed as he helped her up and called for her husband.

 

#32:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 3:50 pm

Thanks, Mia Very Happy

*hoping for a nice easy labour for Con*

May we have a baby naming party please?

 

#33:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 3:52 pm

LizB wrote:
May we have a baby naming party please?


Of course *g* It wouldn't be the same without one!

 

#34:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 4:15 pm

Lovely to see Con again - hope the labour goes well.

Thanks Mia. Laughing

 

#35:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 4:59 pm

Oh good, glad Con's happy!

*Tries to think of suggestions for baby names Very Happy .*

 

#36:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 6:10 pm

oooh babby! *starts making ooohing and ahhhing noises in preparation*

 

#37:  Author: BethC, Location: Worcester, UK PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:46 pm

Another great story I've only just discovered!
Thanks, Mia Very Happy

 

#38:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 9:55 pm

“Do you mind if I smoke?” John asked, near the end of their hour-long session, “I can wait if you prefer.”

“No problem.” Dr Forrest produced an ashtray. “Are you married?”

“No. Are you?” John rubbed his temples.

“Divorced.” Dr Forrest replied, calmly, making another note on his pad. “Where do you stay when you’re on leave? Your parents?”

“Yes, or with my brother. It depends… This is the first proper leave I’ve had for years. I’m sorry about your divorce.”

“Oh – it’s for the best.” Dr Forrest frowned, for a moment, “Where were you when you made your suicide attempt?”

“In my cabin. I thought everyone had gone ashore.”

“What are your parents like? Can you talk to them?”

“Yes, well, about most things. Not about this. They don’t know. My brother knows, and his wife, I think. I don’t know…”

“What would they say if you told them?”

“I don’t know. They’d be upset, obviously.”

“Why did you do it?”

“I don’t know. It seems trivial now, but at the time it was the only thing I could do. Bailey asked if it was a cry for help, but I did mean it. I spent days organising everything, put all my papers in order…”

“Did you write a note?”

“No.”

“Why not? Most people do.”

“I didn’t have anything to say. And I couldn’t imagine my mother reading it and – well, I tried to write one and it didn’t work, so I destroyed it.”

“What did it say?”

“I don’t really remember. It’s a bit of a blur… ‘I’m sorry, I love you’, the usual kind of thing, I’m sure.”

“And this note was for your family?”

“Yes.”

“Shall we leave it for today? We’ve covered a lot. I hope you’ve found it helpful.”

“Not really,” John said, before he could stop himself. “I-I mean, it’s going to take a while, isn’t it?”

Dr Forrest’s rather solemn façade cracked and he grinned. “Probably. We’ll see how it goes, anyway.” He stood up and closed his notebook. “By the way, where did you hear about electro-convulsive therapy?”

“I heard my captain talking to someone when I was in the sick bay. When I went to my brother’s house I looked it up in his books… he’s a doctor.” John bit his lip, he hadn’t intended to mention Rix, in case Dr Forrest remembered they had worked together in the past.

“It’s not relevant, only a last resort for some patients, as I said. I’m going to prescribe some mild anti-depressants and we’ll see how you get on with them.” Dr Forrest scribbled briefly, tore the paper from the pad and handed it over with a brief smile. “See you next week.”

 

#39:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:18 pm

Hmmmm, very innocuous questions - but think they told Doctor Forrest something.

Thanks Mia.

 

#40:  Author: Rose in Toronto, Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada PostPosted: Sat Apr 15, 2006 10:54 pm

This is so good, and so intriguing. I'm wondering...could it be Dan and John as the next happy couple? Is that the comparison that John's worried about - the family-size competition that goes on in that clan?

Hmmmmm.

 

#41:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 7:34 am

Thanks Mia, this is very interesting. John seems to be feeling reasonably comfortable with this doctor. Hope all goes ok for Con.

 

#42:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 8:09 am

Thanks Mia - I hope Toby can help John

 

#43:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 11:27 am

Thank you Mia! I hope John can be helped!!

 

#44:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 11:42 am

Thanks, Mia. Dr Forrest seems nice.

 

#45:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 12:57 pm

Dr Forrest seems to be going somewhere with his questions, and I'd like to know where.

 

#46:  Author: MaryR, Location: Cheshire PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 2:11 pm

I like John's honesty when he says it hasn't helped - or not yet! Hopefully, in time...

Thanks, Mia.

 

#47:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 2:18 pm

I don't think John and Daniel like each other very much actually Smile


Rix was waiting in the car outside, with Jonathan Rayner in the back of the car. John glanced at him.

“Con’s having her baby. Frank’s gone to the hospital with her. It’ll take hours, I expect, so I said I’d take Jonathan to the park. Coming?”

After the park, they went for tea at one of the hotels.

“Just think, you might have a baby brother or sister now,” Rix said to Jonathan, as he drank his milk, happily. “Shall we go to the hospital and see? We can take her some flowers, just from you…”

“Do you think Aunt Jo will come over to see the baby?” John asked, pouring the last of the tea.

“She came to see Jonathan, so maybe… She might come over when Geoff goes back to school, or maybe for this funeral for Mary-Lou’s father. I don’t know. We’d better make a move. Can you take him to the bathroom while I settle up?”

*

Jonathan was excited about going to hospital and could barely stand still at the basin for washing the remains of his tea from his face and hands, chattering on about having a sister or brother without much comprehension of what it meant. John was amused, his mind taken off the meeting with the psychiatrist for a few moments at least.

He was drying his own hands when the door opened and a young man came in, who immediately stared at John in shock, and began to raise his hand in an automatic salute.

He stopped half-way, embarrassed, recalling where he was and the fact that neither of them was in uniform.

“Good afternoon, sir,” he stammered, clearly nervous. “I-I…

“Good afternoon,” John couldn’t place him.

“Oh, it's Faulkner, sir. I’m on the Commitment. Midshipman.” Faulkner glanced at Jonathan, who was looking up at him curiously, and smiled warmly.

“Of course. How are you?” John made the usual mental adjustment between the worlds of the Service and home; and shook hands.

“Good, thank you, sir. I say, I’m with my parents, you wouldn’t come over and meet them would you?”

Last edited by Mia on Sun Apr 16, 2006 2:45 pm; edited 1 time in total

 

#48:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 2:44 pm

Lots of luffy updates, thanks Mia, I hope Con is okay!

As for

Mia wrote:
I don't think John and Daniel like each very much actually


I don't think they do either, at the moment... Wink

 

#49:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 3:05 pm

Thanks Mia, it's great to catch up on this! Very Happy

 

#50:  Author: Ruth B, Location: Oxford, UK PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 3:09 pm

Hmmm. Does John not want to see Jo? Inquiring minds want to know...

 

#51:  Author: Eilidh, Location: Macclesfield PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 3:12 pm

*wonders if we know Faulkner's parents and if there's a problem with Jo*

Thanks Mia.

 

#52:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 3:39 pm

Thanks, Mia. I wonder if John and Dan will start to get on better.

 

#53:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 4:27 pm

Oh - I've been kind of hoping that John and Daniel might get together.

Also wondering if we know Faulkner's parents.

Thanks Mia Very Happy .

 

#54:  Author: Rosy, Location: Gloucestershire-London-Aberystwyth PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 8:19 pm

Alison H wrote:
Oh - I've been kind of hoping that John and Daniel might get together.


Shocked Really? Ooooh.

Am really enjoying this but hoping Con has an easy time of it.

 

#55:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 9:55 pm

“Mother, Father, this is Lieutenant-Commander Bettany, from my ship. Sir, my father, Stephen Faulkner, and my mother, Pamela… This is my grandfather, too.”

“How do you do,” John replied, shaking hands with the latter.

“Bettany… Heard of you,” the elderly man said, gruffly. “One of Walsh’s lot, aren’t you? And Geoffrey here speaks highly of you. D.S.O. aren’t you?”

“Yes, sir.” John nodded. “Malaya.”

“Yes, I’ve heard of you.” He said again, patting Jonathan on the head. “Your son?”

“Oh, no. My cousin’s child.”

“And my grandson, he’s doing well with you?”

“Oh, yes, excellent.” John looked over at Faulkner who crimsoned. “Sub-Lieutenant Hart is very pleased with him,” he added, wondering if he had met his grandfather previously. It would be gauche to ask. Clearly he was in the Service; he would have to find out. It was nice to think that his career was thought of as impressive. Normally people only said that he was young to have a sea command.

“Where are you going next?” Faulkner’s mother asked, frowning.

“I don’t know, I’m afraid.” John replied, looking over at where Rix was waiting, impatiently. “They haven’t told me yet. I’m on leave. I think we sail in October.”

“I hope it’s nowhere too dangerous.” Mrs Faulkner said.

“Mum,” Faulkner hissed, mortified. John turned his laughter into a credible cough. It was the same sort of thing his own mother was wont to say.

“It’s very nice to meet you,” he said, pleasantly, and left them.


*


“Congratulations.” John whispered, as Frank Rayner put his very new daughter into his arms. “She’s gorgeous.”

“How’s Con?” Rix asked, smiling to see Jonathan gazing into the crib that held the baby’s twin sister.

“Sleeping. She’s fine. It was very short and straightforward, I’m told. The babes were forty minutes apart.” Rayner smiled. “She’s going to be fine.”

 

#56:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 10:17 pm

Thanks, Mia. I'm glad John they didn't ask uncomfortable questions.

I have an idea for the names! - Josephine and Margaret! Seriously, Charlotte and Louise?

 

#57:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Sun Apr 16, 2006 10:26 pm

Awww, Con's got twin girls - bless. Laughing

Thanks Mia.

 

#58:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW PostPosted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 12:09 am

Twin daughters...lovely. And an interesting meeting there for John.

 

#59:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 10:30 am

Awww bless. Twinnies! I likes twinnies!

 

#60:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 1:51 pm

Twins! How lovely! Thanks, Mia.

 

#61:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 4:27 pm

Thanks, Mia Very Happy

Twins for Con - how about naming one of them after you Wink

 

#62:  Author: Chalet_school_lover, Location: Gloucester PostPosted: Mon Apr 17, 2006 4:49 pm

Twins! Yay, I'm soo pleased for Con! Very Happy *thinks very hard about names for them* Thanks Mia!! Very Happy

 

#63:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 11:57 am

“Tell me about the babies,” Mollie said, almost before they had got through the front door of the Quadrant. “Who are they like? Are they dark, like Con?”

“They’re red and like Frank. They’re lovely, and Con’s doing well. It’s a very dark red, they’ll probably end up with darker hair. What do you think, John?”

John shrugged. “Probably. They’re very tiny.”

“I must phone Jo. Sure, won’t she be flying over to see them. Do you think Con would bring them here?”

“I don’t see why not.” Rix said, easily.

“Your sister’s coming round for dinner tonight. She’ll want to hear about them too.” Mollie continued. “The boys are out with your father and Maurice somewhere. John, mavourneen, did your business go well?”

“Mmm? Oh, yes, thanks. Just standard stuff.” John hid himself behind the newspaper.

 

#64:  Author: Eilidh, Location: Macclesfield PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:02 pm

Thanks Mia.

 

#65:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:04 pm

Thanks, Mia. Isn't the whole family obsessed with babies?

 

#66:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:39 pm

Thanks, Mia

 

#67:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 12:52 pm

Like Jennie said, they're all obsessed with babies - difficult for Mary-Lou as well.

 

#68:  Author: Chalet_school_lover, Location: Gloucester PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 1:36 pm

Thanks Mia. Babies, babies, babies! It's insane, I also feel sorry for Mary-Lou! Sad

 

#69:  Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 1:40 pm

Hurrah - have finally caught up with this! Sorry for taking so long about it, Mia!

And Very Happy for Con's twins. Also feeling a bit sorry for M-L though.

 

#70:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 3:15 pm

Thanks, Mia. The whole family all seem to love talking about babies!

 

#71:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 6:14 pm

Hmmm, can understand it to a certain extent - but must be hard for Mary Lou - especially as she's sure to have some well-meaning person ask when she's planning to add to her family.

Thanks Mia.

 

#72:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Tue Apr 18, 2006 9:45 pm

Wheeeee how did I miss all this new stuff before?!

I'm so glad that Con has twins and that they're safe although am feeling a tad sorry for M-L becuase someone's obviously going to ask the questions and it's the last thing she needs right now.

*wondering about Tom's sleepwalking*

Thank you honey!

 

#73:  Author: Cath V-P, Location: Newcastle NSW PostPosted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 3:51 am

The twins are lovely....but I hope Mary-Lou manages to avoid too many unthinking remarks. People can be so rude about this topic!

 

#74:  Author: Identity Hunt, Location: UK PostPosted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 7:09 am

I`m glad Con and the babes are ok, but like everyone else, I do feel for Mary-Lou and the inevitable tactless comments........

 

#75:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 2:07 pm

Thanks for all your comments, they keep the bunnies happy & productive! Smile

Maeve arrived at six, with her two girls, and Daniel Lyndhurst, whom Mollie had also apparently invited to dinner. Rix and David immediately took him off to discuss medicine, while Maeve supervised the children’s supper, with Daphne and Mollie.

“I’m off to the estate office,” Dick Bettany said, cheerfully. “Do you want to join me?”

John was about to politely demur, when he thought that it might be a good idea to keep occupied. He nodded and followed his father to the estate office, where they spent the next hour or so looking over figures.

“Let’s leave it there,” Dick said, glancing at his watch. “Thanks for this.”

“No problem.” John shuffled the papers together.

“Everything’s all right, isn’t it?” his father asked, before he could leave.

“Yes… why?” John frowned. “I’m fine. Thanks.”

“You do look better than you did when you arrived.” Dick said, studying him. “I expect you’ve been working too hard.”

“It has been quite hectic,” John said, sitting back down.

“At least you’ve got a decent amount of leave this time. How long have you got?”

“Oh, two months. I’ve got to be back on the fifth of September, but we don’t actually go out till the twentieth. I’ve got the new intake to see to though, so I might go back a day or so earlier. I’ll see.”

“Two months is good. Any particular reason why you have that long?”

“Not really. Just – the way it fell this time. I’ve had long leaves before, haven’t I?” John heard himself becoming defensive and paused. “I’m fine, honestly, Dad. You don’t need to worry about me.”

“All parents worry. I suppose what I’m trying to say is that it’s nice to see you, we don’t see enough of you. Letters aren’t the same.”

“No, but you knew it would be like this when I joined the Service. No – I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to snap. I’m tired… I wish dinner could just be us without any outsiders.”

“Oh, Dan Lyndhurst’s practically family. Is that who you mean?” Dick looked baffled.

“He’s always here…”

“He’s one of your brother’s friends and our guest.” Dick retorted, clearly surprised. “He hasn’t got any family of his own and he’s always been welcome here.”

“I’m sorry, I just meant…”

“No, I know what you meant. We should spend time together. We will do, I’ll have a word with your mother tonight.” Dick smiled. “Come on then, we’d better get back before they send out a search party.”

 

#76:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 2:15 pm

Thanks, Mia - lovely Very Happy

Was looking up girls' names - how about Sigilwig and Hugiherahta Wink

 

#77:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 2:19 pm

Hope they can all get to spend some time together. Not seeing their kids for years when they were little must have been very hard for Dick and Mollie as well.

 

#78:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 2:20 pm

Thanks, Mia. I'm glad John was able to spend some time with Dick.

 

#79:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 3:00 pm

Hmmm, think Dick's suspicious....


Thanks Mia.

 

#80:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 3:18 pm

Maeve was interested to hear about the Con’s twin daughters and the conversation revolved around them for the beginning of the meal. Rix listened; thinking how glad he was that Mary-Lou was still in London with the Cameron family and not at the Quadrant. It has been bad enough to have to tell her that yet another member of the family had had baby girls. She had gone very quiet when he had gone round to Knightsbridge to tell her the day before.

Daphne was chattering away to David and Daniel. John was sat opposite, talking to his mother. Rix couldn’t hear what they were talking about, but John looked relaxed enough. He turned to start a conversation with his father about cricket.

 

#81:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 4:07 pm

Poor Mary-Lou. Still can't think of appropriate names for the twins, though!
Thanks, Mia.

 

#82:  Author: jennifer, Location: Taiwan PostPosted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 5:11 pm

These are my daughters, Lime-Green and Cream.

 

#83:  Author: Rosy, Location: Gloucestershire-London-Aberystwyth PostPosted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 5:13 pm

Poor ML. I await the naming with glee.

 

#84:  Author: Alex, Location: Cambs, UK PostPosted: Wed Apr 19, 2006 7:45 pm

Gemma and Naomi.

Or, Ethel and Edith.



Thanks, Mia.

 

#85:  Author: Eilidh, Location: Macclesfield PostPosted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 8:00 am

No ideas for names, I'm afraid.

Thanks for the updates though.

 

#86:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 11:42 am

Bored with continual baby talk, John allowed his attention to wander and glanced opposite where David was recounting an amusing anecdote about his twin brothers, who had recently finished school and had gone to backpack around France with some friends.

“What will they do when they get back?” Daniel asked.

“Oh – university. Kes is going to read English literature and Kevin’s going in for Law. Dad’s devastated, of course, he wanted them to go into medicine,” David grinned, “And before that I remember my parents had this mad plan that one of them would go in the Army and the other in the Navy. I remember Mum writing that to me when they were born.”

“When they were born?” Daniel raised his eyebrows. “How could she have known then?”

“Oh, I know, mad isn’t it?” David laughed, “Mind you, it’s all changed now, you don’t need to decide at twelve or whatever for something like that. I think it’ll be useful to have a solicitor in the family. I think Dad was secretly hoping the twins would join me at the San. Felix will go to Switzerland, I expect, and the other Maynards aren’t interested in medicine. Apart from Margot of course, but that’s different.”

“What do the others do?” Daniel was interested.

“Steve’s an engineer – Charles is training for the priesthood, would you believe – Felix is studying medicine, as I said – Mike’s Navy… Geoff’s only fourteen or so, he’s still at school…”

“Oh, yes I know Geoff. He’s told me six or seven different careers he wants to try.”

“Exactly, you can’t possibly know what you want to do so young.” David agreed. “Especially the Forces, it’s not something I’d be prepared to do, even to please Mother. National Service was bad enough.”

“Well… I think it’s a mistake to commit to anything before one is old enough to understand it,” Daniel said seriously. “I’m researching a paper actually… I see patients who have serious problems because of this, you know, and…”

John dropped his knife, which clattered onto the floor. Daniel looked over and didn’t finish his sentence.

David leapt in to fill the uncomfortable silence. “Sorry, Jackie. Didn’t mean to criticise, was just saying it’s not the life for me. I like to be settled in one place, not stuck on a ship for years and years. I think I’d go nuts. Lyndhurst, you were saying..?”

“He was saying that knowing what you want to do with your life is wrong,” John said, with an edge to his voice.

“I didn’t mean…” Daniel began, but David cut in. “Oh come on, Jackie, we weren’t talking about you.”

“Don’t call me that.” John snapped, attracting the attention of everyone.

 

#87:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 11:51 am

Oh dear, I think there's going to be a 'situation' arising out of this conversation.

 

#88:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 11:53 am

Whoops, both feet right in it - although John's being very touchy! Glad that Kevin and Kester are doing their own thing.

 

#89:  Author: Eilidh, Location: Macclesfield PostPosted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 11:56 am

I agree, he is being rather touchy.

Thanks Mia.

 

#90:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:01 pm

meeep! Confused

Thanks, Mia

 

#91:  Author: Ally, Location: Jack Maynard's Dressing Room!! PostPosted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 12:18 pm

*meeps and snuggles John*

Poor John, the navy is his life and that's not all rosy for him at the moment, so it's hardly surprising he'd react badly to perceived criticism, even if they didn't mean it.

*worries about what will happen next*

 

#92:  Author: aitchemelle, Location: West Sussex PostPosted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 4:58 pm

What Ally says!

(lazy? moi?!)

*worries about John* (and Mia's eebil intent Twisted Evil )

 

#93:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 5:33 pm

*wibbles*

That was not a good path for that conversation to be taking. *hoping for a timely interruption*

 

#94:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 6:18 pm

Oh dear, whether Daniel intended it or not John will take it as criticism. Good to hear about the rest of the clan - and glad Kevin and Kester are doing their own thing!

Thanks Mia.

 

#95:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 8:11 pm

Thanks, Mia. I'm sorry that David has upset John unintentionally.

 

#96:  Author: BethC, Location: Worcester, UK PostPosted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 10:28 pm

Oh dear... not the most tactful conversation!
Thanks, Mia

 

#97:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Thu Apr 20, 2006 10:45 pm

Thanks Mia, have just caught up on all of this. David never really thinks before he opens his mouth does he?

Thank you Very Happy

Kathryn

 

#98:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 12:39 pm

The problem is that David is walking through a minefield, but doesn't know it's there. A bit of honesty would clear up a lot of these mistakes.

 

#99:  Author: Josie, Location: London PostPosted: Fri Apr 21, 2006 3:05 pm

Foot in mouth there, Daniel!

Thanks Mia. Lovely as ever.

 

#100:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol PostPosted: Sun Apr 23, 2006 9:39 am

Poor John, I hope that he manages to avoid any awkward questions.
How about Daisy and Decca for Con's twins?

 

#101:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:42 am

“What did I say?” David asked as soon as the meal was over. John had excused himself before the end and disappeared.

“I don’t know. I rather think it was Dan… I don’t know. I don’t think he and John like each other very much.” Rix said.

“It’s not like John to be so irritable… did he have a bad time out wherever he was last? I’ll go and apologise to him,” David continued.


*

John had gone to his bedroom and locked the door. His parents had both visited separately asked him if he was well and he had lied and said he was tired and apologised and changed the subject. They had accepted this, as anything else was so enormously out-of-character for him. After they had gone, he had turned the key in the lock and resolved to ignore any other callers.

He studied the bottle of tablets that Dr Forrest had prescribed. They didn’t seem to be helping but he supposed he had to continue taking them. He wondered if Dr Forrest would write to Surgeon-Commander Bailey for the review of his case and decided to ask at the next meeting. If he wasn’t, then maybe he could talk more freely. Of course, it would depend on what Dr Forrest said, but John had the impression he might be sympathetic.

He started at the knock on his door, but didn’t answer. After a while, he heard slow footsteps move away and was glad.

 

#102:  Author: Alison H, Location: Manchester PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:53 am

Poor John.

 

#103:  Author: LizB, Location: Oxon, England PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 11:57 am

Sad Poor John

Thanks, Mia

 

#104:  Author: Eilidh, Location: Macclesfield PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:06 pm

*hugs John*

Thanks Mia

 

#105:  Author: Jennie, Location: Cambridgeshire PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 12:25 pm

Poor John, it's so hard for him to shake off the depression.

 

#106:  Author: Fatima, Location: Sunny Qatar PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 1:08 pm

Poor John. I hope someone can help him soon.

Thanks Mia.

 

#107:  Author: Cazx, Location: Swansea/Bristol PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 1:24 pm

Ohhh I feel so sorry for John, I hope he finds someone to talk to soon.

 

#108:  Author: KathrynW, Location: London PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 1:31 pm

Poor John - I hope he feels better soon.

Thanks Mia

Kathryn

 

#109:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 3:58 pm

Feel really sorry for John - and rather worried about those tablets....


Thanks Mia.

 

#110:  Author: Chair, Location: Rochester, Kent PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 6:29 pm

Thanks, Mia. I am also feeling sorry and worried for John.

 

#111:  Author: francesn, Location: away with the faeries PostPosted: Mon Apr 24, 2006 7:40 pm

Eeep.

Mia - don't do anything bad to John.

*wibbles because the board is going down and I won't be able to keep an eye on you!*

 

#112:  Author: Changnoi, Location: New Mexico, USA PostPosted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 1:46 am

Love! Did not know there was a new Mia story until today! Love! Happiness!

Though I will say that there was not really very much antidepressant therapy in use in early 1960s. Or even mid 1960s....oh, well...it's better than excessive ECT use.

Chang

 

#113:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 9:00 am

I'm not 100% sure but I think it's different in Britain re medication vs ECT. We had Tofranil from the mid 1950s. My gran had it for a while in the late 50s. And of course this is set in 1967 and of course it's all a big plot device really... Wink

*returns the love* Did you get the word doc?

 

#114:  Author: Lesley, Location: Allhallows, Kent PostPosted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 1:15 pm

Definitely had Valium in 1967. He may have been prescrinbed that - it was considered the cure-all.

 

#115:  Author: Mia, Location: London PostPosted: Tue Apr 25, 2006 1:36 pm

Lesley wrote:
Definitely had Valium in 1967. He may have been prescrinbed that - it was considered the cure-all.


Thank you Lesley *curtseys and makes notes in special drabblejohnbook*

 

#116:  Author: Changnoi, Location: New Mexico, USA PostPosted: Wed Apr 26, 2006 12:10 am

Mia wrote:
I'm not 100% sure but I think it's different in Britain re medication vs ECT. We had Tofranil from the mid 1950s. My gran had it for a while in the late 50s. And of course this is set in 1967 and of course it's all a big plot device really... Wink

*returns the love* Did you get the word doc?


I would think it's more likely to be Valium...mother's little helper and all that...but yes, anything could happen. And it's much better than sending the poor lad for ECT, which is more 50s anyway. (I have been reading I Never Promised You a Rose Garden and reading all sorts of stuff by Harry Stack Sullivan and the other interpersonal psychiatry guys recently...)

Yes, I got the word doc. Thanks!

I need more story! I'm hooked!

Chang

 

The CBB -> Starting again at Sarres...


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