The Good Turn by Dervla McTiernan

Author:Dervla McTiernan
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2020-01-13T00:00:00+00:00

CHAPTER TWENTY-THREE

The front door of Maggie’s cottage was ajar when Peter reached it. He pushed it open and went inside, heard hushed voices coming from the living room. He knocked on the living room door and opened it. Maggie was half sitting, half lying on the couch. She looked flushed and dishevelled. The young woman he’d seen arrive by bicycle sat by her side, holding her hand – this must surely be Anna. She didn’t look at all as he had expected. She was slight, with an anxious little face and mousy hair tied back in a loose ponytail. She was pretty, certainly, but not in the generous, rounded way that Des liked, and she couldn’t have been more than twenty-five. And the mysterious Tilly must be the little girl he’d seen arrive with her – a daughter, then, not a tag-along friend.

There was a man sitting in the armchair. He was in his forties, wearing neat slacks and an open-collared shirt, and had a medical bag at his feet. He was leaning forward in his chair, speaking in a low voice to Anna.

Peter cleared his throat. ‘Is everything all right?’ he asked.

Anna and the doctor turned to look at him, but Maggie didn’t seem to notice his arrival.

‘Sorry. We haven’t met. I’m Peter Fisher, Maggie’s grandson.’ Maggie’s eyes weren’t quite focused. ‘Everything all right, Mags?’ he asked. He wanted to take her hand, but Anna was in the way.

The doctor stood, offered a hand. ‘Richard Barrett,’ he said. ‘Maggie’s doctor. I called by to see her today, and I’m afraid she’d had a bit of a fall. I found her here, on the floor.’

‘What happened, Maggie? How did you manage to fall?’ Anna asked. She spoke with a strong north-Dublin accent.

‘It could have been one of a number of reasons,’ Barrett said. ‘Maggie’s blood pressure is quite low, but there are a few other potential causes that we should talk about.’

‘I’m fine,’ Maggie said weakly. ‘I’m just fine. I don’t like a fuss.’ She pulled her hand from Anna’s.

‘I think the best thing now would be for Maggie to take a rest and, ideally, have a good meal,’ said Barrett. ‘Not too much talk. She might be better off going to bed. A good night’s sleep is what she needs now. And I can come by and check on her again tomorrow.’

‘Thank you,’ Peter said.

‘But you were fine when I left you,’ Anna said. ‘You were fine.’

‘It isn’t anyone’s fault, Anna,’ Doctor Barrett said gently. He put a hand on her shoulder but his eyes went to Peter. ‘These things happen to the best of us, don’t they? And you’re feeling better now, aren’t you, Maggie? I’ll see you tomorrow afternoon, all right?’

Barrett gave Peter a discreet nod, and Peter walked him out.

‘Sorry,’ said the doctor, when they were outside. ‘These are difficult circumstances to meet for the first time.’

‘Yes,’ Peter said. He pushed his hands into his pockets. ‘I’ve never seen Maggie like that. I mean, she was a little confused, maybe, when we spoke the other day.

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