Out of Practice (2 page)

Elsie’s intent gaze missed nothing, as she appeared to clock Holly’s discomfort and nervous anticipation all with one assessing look. ‘My darling girl, I’m sure
you’ll be an asset to our little community whatever your reasons. And here you are on your first day . . . Such bliss to have a new project – all those new people to meet, new
adventures to have, the possibility of an
affaire du coeur
. Oh, I envy you a little, I really do.’ Elsie’s hand fluttered to the diamond pendant at her throat, highlighting the
sharp contrast between the perfectly smooth skin of Elsie’s cheek and the crêpe de chine of her neck.

Holly flushed a little, discomfited by the picture Elsie was painting. Searching for a change of subject, she eyed up Elsie’s perfectly parked vintage Fiat, the early sun glinting off the
powder-blue bonnet. ‘I must get you to show me how to do that snazzy parking manoeuvre one day, Elsie. My husband, Milo, has given up trying to teach me. It was going to end in divorce if he
didn’t!’ She just about managed a gentle laugh.

Elsie followed her lead, albeit watching her expression closely. ‘Well, I’ll teach you my little trick, if you like. Steve McQueen taught it to me in 1965 and it’s never let me
down yet. Now, what was the name of that movie we did together? Oh, that’s going to annoy me all day now . . .’

Holly guided Elsie around a puddle in the gravel, trying not to be a little jealous of the old lady’s stylish leather boots, and they walked over towards the main entrance. The Practice
building itself was newly renovated and nestled comfortably on the edge of the market town. The older part of the building was warm local stone and the windows were capped by arches of red brick,
giving the building the appearance of having eyebrows. A sweeping wisteria climbed the walls and the tiny pendulums of buds promised a stunning display to come.

The newer section was clearly bolder by design, featuring huge picture windows with frosted glass. Having already been inside for her interview, Holly knew that the light now flooded into the
building, relieving the dark, oppressive feeling that haunted so many doctors’ practices. All in all, the building had a pleasant airy feel that was welcoming and spacious.

She pushed open the doors and breathed in the ubiquitous smells of Deep Heat and antiseptic. It felt like coming home. Whatever her reasons for leaving the hospital behind, Holly knew that the
move to The Practice was the right thing for her professionally. All she had to do now was to make sure it worked for her disastrous personal life too. She couldn’t help smiling as she saw
her name newly painted on to the list of doctors at The Practice.

Elsie gave her arm a squeeze, ‘
Bonne chance
, Dr Graham. It’s been a pleasure.’

‘Holly? Holly Graham?’ A petite woman with a harassed expression managed a welcoming smile as she bustled across the office, ‘I’m Grace Allen, the
Practice Manager.’

‘Grace, hello. So lovely to see you again,’ said Holly sincerely, recognising her from the interview day, and comforted to be met by a familiar and friendly face.

Grace flushed a little and Holly remembered how thoughtful Grace had been to all the candidates, briefing them beforehand on areas of special interest, making sure they knew about schools and
housing in the town.

‘I can’t thank you enough for all the information you sent through to me, Grace. It made the move so much smoother and the boys are settling into Pinetrees Nursery already. I
won’t say it’s been a painless transition,’ said Holly, with classic understatement, ‘but your tips made all the difference, truly.’

‘Well . . .’ parried Grace, obviously delighted by the compliments but embarrassed nevertheless, ‘it’s stressful enough moving house, let alone starting a new job. But I
do remember what it’s like juggling work and the little ones, so if you ever need someone to talk to, I’ll be right here.’ Her cheeks flushed a little more, setting off the auburn
highlights in her bob, as she leaned in a little. ‘Although, I also seem to remember that some days it was nice to come to work for a rest! Now let’s see what we can do about getting
you some coffee and we’ll sort out that bit of porridge on your skirt at the same time.’ Grace gave her a sympathetic smile which made Holly want to hug her, despite having known her
for all of five minutes.

She looked down at the small white handprint on her skirt and shook her head in dismay, frustrated with herself for fulfilling the ditsy working-mother-stereotype right off the bat. She really
needed to get her act together. She always aimed to be professional, calm and compassionate at work. This morning, it was fair to say, she was falling well wide of her target. She scooped a wet
wipe from her handbag and rubbed at the stain ineffectually. ‘I don’t know how they manage it. I walked all round Tesco with yoghurt down my back when the twins were tiny and nobody
said a word.’

Grace laughed and patted Holly’s shoulder. ‘We’ll watch your back for you now you’re here.’ Her expression darkened as a tall, blonde woman swept through the office
without even acknowledging their presence, merely dropping a stack of paperwork on Grace’s desk and leaving. ‘Well, most of us will, anyway. But we can save that one for
later.’

Holly craned her neck, wondering who this woman was, to provoke such a reaction in seemingly mild-mannered Grace. Other than being slightly in awe of the endless legs, the perfect make-up and
the expensively tailored dress, Holly struggled to form an opinion on the basis of one fleeting moment. The stethoscope looped around her neck marked her out as one of the doctors and the jigsaw
pieces clicked into place: Julia Channing. No wonder everyone seemed so delighted to have a new female GP starting, if this über-perfect ice maiden had been their previous option. Holly could
easily believe that such perfection would hardly be conducive to baring one’s intimate issues.

A few minutes later, coffee in hand, Holly was taking notes as Grace whistled through the daily schedule at The Practice with a ruthless efficiency directly at odds with her
genteel appearance.

‘I’ve popped you in for your own afternoon surgery later, but I thought we’d spend the morning just showing you the ropes, the systems and making sure you feel at home,’
said Grace. ‘Dan has requested that you sit in with him for one or two patients and you can meet the rest of the team for elevenses. Now, how does that sound?’

‘Sounds perfect, Grace,’ Holly smiled, all her worries about finding her feet unfounded, and relieved to have such a welcoming and well-organised Practice Manager. She knew that, in
reality, it was probably Grace that held the whole show together. ‘I can’t wait to meet everyone.’

A little white lie on that front couldn’t hurt, justified Holly to herself. After all, Grace didn’t need to know that she was quietly terrified at the prospect of meeting the rest of
the team. Not Dan, obviously, but she’d have to meet Julia Channing properly at some point and there was still Henry Bruce to win over. Holly couldn’t see any hope of a lasting
friendship with the terrifyingly young and overly confident nurse they had passed in the corridor either.

She was suddenly pathetically, ridiculously glad to have Dan here. There were some days, Holly decided, when it took more than a medical degree and a pair of lucky pants to keep one’s
confidence up.

Grace took her cup and ushered her down the hall towards a door marked Dr D. Carter. ‘Well, you’ve already met Larkford’s most glamorous resident, so I’m afraid
it’ll all be downhill from here.’

Holly crinkled her brow. ‘Do you mean Elsie Townsend? Isn’t she wonderful?’ she said with genuine warmth, quietly thinking that if she were able to choose her own old age,
eccentricity was looking pretty appealing.

‘Oh she’s a card alright. Fabulous fun, but a terrible influence. Whatever you do, never let her mix you a Martini – you’ll be dancing on tables before you know it. Trust
me. But if you’re ever bored, buy her a drink and she’ll tell you about her cat fight with Marilyn Monroe and her steamy affair with Steve McQueen.’

Holly laughed, before coming back down to earth with a jolt as she remembered their earlier conversation about Steve McQueen. ‘Actually,’ Holly dropped her voice to a whisper,
‘I do need to find Dr Bruce at some point. I . . . well, I . . . I kind of need to speak to him about his car.’ Holly’s throat flushed red and Grace didn’t miss a trick.

She looked left and right and pulled Holly sharply into the ladies’ loos. ‘You know, Holly, after you’ve been here a little while, you’ll find that all the doctors have
their weaknesses,’ she said, with a studied intensity. ‘George Kingsley for example, is a sucker for a decent steak and kidney pie. Dan Carter gets his shorts in a twist about
discovering a new running trail. And what you need to know about Dr Bruce, is that when it comes to his car, he can sometimes be a little, well, obsessive. So all I’m really saying here is
that, unless his bumper is half way across the car park or you’re a secret petrol-head, I would aim for a nice positive introduction. Yes?’

‘Um,’ said Holly, still desperate to make that first positive impression on all her colleagues, but also knowing that Dr Bruce would doubtless notice the two-inch dent on his beloved
motor sooner rather than later. ‘But I really need to tell him it was me that . . .’

‘That noticed nothing at all in the car park as you walked in?’ said Grace carefully and deliberately.

Holly shook her head. ‘No, that it was me that . . .’

Grace was the one shaking her head now, her voice surprisingly forceful as she continued, ‘Holly, you’re a very sweet girl and clearly a very good doctor or you wouldn’t be
here. But tell Dr Bruce that you scratched his car and your first day could well be your last. Okay? So, as I was saying, you noticed nothing at all . . .’

Holly was struggling to remove the stricken expression from her face, when Grace leaned in and whispered kindly, ‘He’s off to do rounds later and the lanes are really muddy. Trust me
on this one. Just let it go.’ She squeezed Holly’s arm and bundled her out of the ladies, leaving Holly with the distinct impression that Grace was turning out to be a bit of a dark
horse.

Moments later, Holly settled herself quietly in the corner of Dan’s consultation room and tried not to be obvious about the fact that she was staring. She always felt
that you could tell a lot about someone by the state of their desk and, if that maxim held true, then Dan appeared to be suffering from some sort of split personality.

One side of his imposingly solid desk was arranged with almost military precision and, whilst there were serried ranks of various gadgets and gizmos, there was definite order in the chaos. By
contrast, the other side was a teetering mass of paperwork, unopened post and empty coffee cups.

Holly looked up. Caught in the act, there wasn’t much she could do but smile. ‘Sorry. Just being nosey,’ she managed. ‘Trying to get a feel for the place . . .’

‘And trying to work out how it’s possible to have so much paperwork in a paperless office?’ said Dan wryly. ‘Just don’t tell Grace. It’s my guilty little
secret.’ He sat down and swivelled his chair until he was facing her. ‘It’s great you’re here, Holls. You’re going to love it. Quick question though? Dr Graham? Was it
just too much paperwork to change when you got married or should I read something into that?’

Holly shrugged. To Milo, she’d blamed the paperwork, but in reality? ‘Nothing sinister afoot. Just that I didn’t really want to be known as Dr Payne. It’s nearly as bad
as Dr de’Ath at med school.’

Dan laughed, ‘God, yes, I remember him. But Milo Payne – ooph – that’s a tough one to carry off. When you put it like that, Dr Graham is probably the way to go. But, I
will warn you, it’s a little bit old-fashioned round here sometimes – you may find yourself constantly explaining that you haven’t upped and left him.’

Holly laughed nervously, earning herself a quizzical look from Dan, so she quickly filled the conversational black-hole. ‘It seems like a really friendly town, though. The boys are
settling in well and I’m obviously over the moon to be nearer Lizzie. How often, as grown-ups, do you get to see your best friend every day?’

‘It’s great,’ Dan agreed, thankfully letting any awkwardness about Milo pass. ‘Although half the people in this town are completely eccentric and there’s rarely a
dull moment. In fact, to be honest, even the staff at The Practice can take a little getting used to. There are one or two characters here that you’ll either love or hate, but I’ll let
you form your own opinions on that.’

Dan looked at his watch and made an obvious gear change to professional mode. ‘In fact, the first thing you’ll notice today is that General Practice is a rather different beast to
being at the hospital and we all have our own individual style. The important thing for you, Holly, is to hold your own. Don’t be swayed into any decision that makes you feel uncomfortable,
but try and stay open to other possibilities. Granted, it’s a bit of a balancing act, but give it a go.’

‘Okay,’ nodded Holly, suddenly unable to formulate anything more eloquent. She watched as Dan pushed back his tousled mop of chestnut hair that appeared to be resilient to any cut,
style or product.

‘Okay then,’ echoed Dan. ‘And I gather you’ve already met Elsie Townsend? Who, by the way, is simply fabulous, but she does rather keep us all on our toes here.’ He
grinned. ‘Bit of a handful really, but we do love her. Watch out though, she has a sort of mesmerising voice, and before you know it, you’ve agreed to anything . . . So, up you hop and
get her from the waiting room then.

‘Dr Carter’s first rule of medicine, never miss an opportunity to get a little insight into what’s really going on. Most of our patients will lie through their teeth at some
point, but you can tell so much about someone’s health from the way they stand up and the way they walk. Why would anyone want to miss that, if it might help with a diagnosis? But still,
you’ll find some people here just love their intercom.’

Holly left the room, secretly over the moon that she was getting to see Elsie again and that Dan seemed to be exactly the kind of doctor she’d hoped. Even if all the
local tales about the other doctors were true, at least she’d have one friendly soul to chat to.