Christmas At Thrush Green by Miss Read

Author:Miss Read [Read, Miss]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Orion Publishing Group
Published: 2009-10-15T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER ELEVEN

A Haven for Ella

In St Richard’s Hospital, in the nearby large town, John Lovell was as good as he’d promised, and Ella was sent for X-ray quickly, and a Colles’ fracture was confirmed. Back in the Emergency Department, the duty doctor looked at both the swollen wrist and the X-rays and pronounced that the fracture ‘could have been worse’.

‘Thanks for nothing,’ muttered Ella.

‘It means,’ the doctor said tartly, ‘that we won’t need to manipulate it before it is plastered.’ He left the cubicle to attend to another patient.

While they were waiting for the plaster to be applied, John sensed that Ella was obviously very upset.

‘It’s rotten luck, Ella,’ he said. ‘I broke my arm when I was at school, and I got very frustrated at not being able to do the things I wanted to, and felt so useless. People are usually very kind, however, and you’re sure to get all sorts of offers of help.’

‘I don’t want to have to ask for help,’ Ella growled. ‘I’m used to living on my own, and I don’t want people barging in all the time offering help.’

John Lovell was used to gruff Ella and her independent ways. ‘I’m afraid you’ll definitely need a bit of help to start with, but later you’ll find ways of using your fingers. In fact, it will be good to get them moving so you don’t stiffen up too much.’

Ella turned her head away. She just didn’t want to hear the bad news.

‘Come on, Ella, cheer up. It could have been so much worse,’ John said. ‘Your friends will be only too pleased to help you. I’m afraid Ruth will be run off her feet because my brother and his family are coming for Christmas, but I’m sure Joan would, or Phil or Isobel.’

‘You don’t understand,’ Ella mumbled and then fell silent.

‘What don’t I understand? Come on, Ella,’ John said gently. ‘Tell me and I’ll see if I can help.’

Ella looked at John Lovell, then looked away again. John waited.

‘It’s my Christmas presents. I was all behind with them because of my eyes, and now with this wretched hand, I won’t be able to finish making them. I’ll have to give horrid bought ones,’ and Ella curled her lip at the word ‘bought’. ‘And someone will have to take me. It’s bad enough Christmas shopping in all those crowds for one’s own Christmas presents, but to hang around while someone else is shopping - well, no one will want to do that. And it would end up,’ she said, with a toss of her head, ‘with me shopping too quickly and buying a load of rubbish.’

‘Well, don’t give presents this year. Everyone would understand,’ John proposed.

‘Not give presents? What an awful suggestion!’ Ella was obviously scandalized at the thought, and it seemed to give her more resolve. ‘Well, if someone would take me down on Monday . . . then that would be very kind.’ She laid her good hand on John’s arm. ‘Thank you.’

‘I’ll find someone to take you shopping on Monday, I promise,’ said the doctor.

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.