Journey's End Read Online Free Page B

bag. ‘It seems you’re no better and no worse, so you must be following my instructions after all.’
    Lucy smiled triumphantly. ‘Isn’t that what I told you, Doctor?’
    ‘So it is,’ he replied. ‘So it is– but you need to remember you’re not the young woman you once were and your joints aren’t quite so flexible. I’m not saying you can’t do certain things – of course you can – but you must take care not to aggravate your condition. And that includes getting all hot and bothered about things.’
    ‘I won’t.’
    ‘Good.’ He wrote out a prescription. ‘Your blood pressure is slightly up. Take one of theseeach morning, and an hour’s rest in the afternoon. Right?’
    ‘Whatever you say. You’re the doctor.’
    ‘I’ll call again in a few days to check your blood pressure, just to be sure.’
    Glad that the examination was over, Lucy relaxed. ‘Are you ready for tea and biscuits?’
    ‘Need you ask?’ It had become a ritual; a bit of a banter, then the examination, before tea and biscuits. He had come to look forwardto it. ‘That’s the main reason I come to visit,’ the young man teased. He picked up his black bag. ‘A few quiet moments in that delightful kitchen of yours sets me up for the day.’
    Inching herself off the bed, Lucy slipped her shoes on. ‘You haven’t forgotten how I like mine, have you?’
    He shook his head. ‘Strong, with a little milk and two sugars.’
    ‘That’s it.’ She waved him away with a gesture.‘Off you go then. You make your way down, and I’ll follow on.’
    By the time Lucy arrived in the kitchen, the doctor was pouring out two cups of tea and had got out a plate of Elsie’s home-baked shortbread. ‘I can’t stay long,’ he told Lucy. ‘I must check on Maggie Craig; she’s not too far away from giving birth.’
    Lucy tut-tutted. ‘That’s her eighth in as many years. If you ask me, it’s not Maggieas wants checking on, it’s her old man. Quickest way to help Maggie and cut your work down into the bargain, is to chop it off for him. That’ll give everyone a rest, won’t it?’
    The doctor laughed. ‘It’s a bit drastic, don’t you think?’
    Lucy shrugged. ‘He’s a selfish bugger, though. If it was him having the babies, he wouldn’t be so quick to make them.’
    She thought of her dead son, little Jamie,drowned these past twenty years or more, and her heart was sore. ‘Mind you,’ she went on in a softer voice, ‘there is nothing more magical than holding a child in your arms.’
    The doctor looked up to see the sadness in her eyes; he had seen it before and had been curious. Not for the first time, he sensed there was something in Lucy’s past that she was unable to let go. He might have asked, butthe young man’s instinct told him Lucy would not thank him for it. So he waited until the sadness had passed, and she was smiling at him, as though everything was all right in her world.
    ‘I expect you have a busy day ahead of you, Doctor?’
    ‘I have, yes.’ Finishing his tea, he munched the last of his biscuit, and when he thought Lucy wasn’t looking, he tucked one into his jacket pocket. ‘I reallymust get on now,’ he excused himself. ‘Remember what I said, won’t you?’
    Lucy nodded. ‘I will, yes. Thank you, Doctor, and mind you don’t crush that biscuit to crumbs in your pocket. Here.’ Taking a napkin from the drawer she gave it to him with a knowing little smile. ‘Best wrap it up in that, eh?’
    Looking like a little boy caught with his hand in the sweetie jar, Dr Nolan did as he was told,and went sheepishly on his way.
    Through the window Lucy watched him leave and when he was gone her gaze fell on Mary, who was walking with Ben towards the house.
    ‘We’re away now, Mother.’ Mary arrived to kiss Lucy cheerio. ‘Ben’s just washing the oil from his hands, then we’re off to organise the tractor.’
    Lucy laughed. ‘And what do you know about tractors?’
    Mary made a face. ‘Nothing,’