(Part 01)
It was a successful organization that phlebotomist Harriet Robinson joined on a bitter cold January morning along with another new nurse named Elena Fedeli.
It was two years to the day after Dr Claire Andrews took over The Shallowfield Surgery and in that short time she and her business partner Olivia Adamson had transformed it into the Dancingdean Heath Centre, which necessitated the expansion of staff numbers.
Equally while things had been going well for Claire and Olivia in the two years they had been in Shallowfield.
It had been quite a similar story in those two years for
Harriet, which began with her taking blood from her needle phobic husband to be.
Her full birth name was Hayley Harriet Hanson but that was before, at the tender age of 21, she married William Quimby.
And after her disastrous marriage ended though she chose to remain as Harriet Quimby as she rather liked the name.
Her ex-husband on the other hand remained a complete bastard.
She was a phlebotomist by profession and proud of it but she was really tired of people saying to her “What’s a phlebotomist?”
And then having to explain her occupation to them, so she made the decision to reply, when asked what she did for a living, that she was a nurse and volunteered no further information.
Which was a shame because she loved her job, and she really was proud to be a phlebotomist, she liked dealing with people and liked engaging with them and she was good at it.
Some of her colleagues favoured the stand offish approach, keeping a dignified distance between themselves and the patients, but that was not Harriet’s way.
Harriet found the pleasant exchanges helped the day pass by, she couldn’t do it with everyone of course, some patients thought they were customers and that she was on a par with a shop girl, but they were few and far between.
And it was through her job and her pleasant professionalism that she came to replace the name Quimby with that of Robinson.
In the years since her divorce she had not remarried or even thought of doing so.
She worked hard in a rewarding job, she had a supportive family and she had a large circle of friends, and she was content with that.
Harriet was not without admirers however and she had not exactly lived as a nun, she had had boyfriends but she had not actively sort a replacement for Mr Quimby, what would be would be in the fullness of time.
So it was a life changing moment at the Abbeyvale Health Centre when Nathan Robinson heard his name called by the willowy young Harriet with her bobbed dark brown hair, wearing a white uniform with red piping.
He was only there for a routine blood test but he was Trypanophobic but she was well used to needle phobe’s and her easy manner and playful teasing soon put him at his ease when she called him a chicken and he called her a vampire.
All of which put his mind at rest to such a degree that he was able to take a moment or two to appreciate the loveliness of the girl with the very large needle.
After he’d left the room she chuckled to herself as she remembered their humorous and pleasant exchange and she thought what a nice man he was.
(Part 02)
There was no one in her life at the time and she was content with that so that brief pleasant exchange between them would probably have been the end of it had it not been for a chance meeting just over a week later when they saw each other again in St Candida’s park.
He saw her sitting on the grass with a small group of young women and decided to approach.
“Hello nurse Nosferatu” he called and then he made the sign of the cross when she turned around
“Oh hello chicken” she responded and made it sound like a term of endearment which wasn’t her intent but she was not unhappy about it.
“Should a phlebotomist be out in the sunlight?” Nathan asked
“What’s a phlebotomist?” one of the group asked and Harriet shook her head and took it as her sign to leave.
She said her goodbyes to her friends and quickly caught up with Nathan who had gone ahead.
“Thanks for that” she said
“For what?” he asked
“For exposing me as a phlebotomist” she said
“Ay?” he exclaimed in some confusion
“But you are a phlebotomist”
“I know” she said “but I hate the fact that I always have to explain it”
“Sorry” Nathan said
“So what do you do for a living?” she asked
“I’m a University Professor” he said proudly
“A professor?” Harriet replied a little impressed
“Aren’t you a little young?”
“Not in my field” he replied
“I thought professors were intelligent” she said with a laugh
“And I thought nursing was the caring profession” he retorted
“So what are you the professor of?” she enquired
“Music” Nathan replied
“Really, what kind?” she asked impressed
“My field of expertise is early 20th century” he replied
“Like Puccini?” She said hopefully
“Like jazz” Nathan said
“Jazz? How disappointing, you got interesting for a second and then, wham! Dull as ditch water again”
“I like jazz” he said defensively “Jazz is very exciting”
“And people study that at University?” she asked derisively
“Of course, as part of a rounded degree course” he replied
“Do you play or just teach?” she asked
“Yes” Nathan replied
“Which one?”
“Both”
“What instrument? The washboard?” She asked and laughed out loud with delight
“That’s skiffle, not jazz” he corrected her “Philistine”
“What then?” Harriet persisted
“Clarinet” Said Nathan
“Really? But that’s a proper instrument” she said shocked “Are you any good?”
“Well I enjoy playing” he answered
“You’re really bad then” Harriet said and laughed again
“Why not come and judge for yourself” he said
“When?” she asked
“Now” he replied “we’re playing a set at the Jazz Shack on Finchampton Street”
“Ok” she answered although she wasn’t sure why
Nathan who was six years older than her, really liked her but worried about the age difference, however after the gig he suggested that they do it again.
Harriet was reluctant to accept, not because of the age gap or because she hadn’t enjoyed it.
Nor was it because she didn’t like him, because she did.
“We have absolutely nothing in common” Harriet said to him
“We share a sense of humour” he said
“That doesn’t count” she responded
“I think a good sense of humour is essential in a relationship if there is a prospect of someone seeing me naked” Nathan replied
“That’s really not much of a prospect” Harriet corrected him.
In the end she reluctantly agreed and much to her surprise it worked.
To the untrained eye they seemed an odd couple, she a beautiful willowy health professional and him an unspectacular looking academic.
There was the 6 year age difference for a start and they didn’t even agree on music, he was a devotee of early Jazz whereas Harriet favoured Puccini’s Operas.
But despite their differences they became a couple and learned to appreciate the others likes because that was what relationships were about, compromise.
And it was also patently obvious to everyone, that miss matched or not they were head over heels in love.
And after six months together Harriet could hardly remember the time before they met.
They did however still disagree musically but in all other matters they were simpatico.
(Part 03)
For her 30th birthday he arranged a surprise trip to see Madame Butterfly, at the Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.
Which had she not already fallen in love with him would on its own have won her heart.
Harriet loved every moment and it was a wonderfully romantic trip and on the night before they returned home, on top of the Empire State Building, he proposed to her and they married the year after.
Alas because she was a divorcee they couldn’t marry in Church, so the ceremony was held in the Abbeyvale registry office which was immediately followed by a blessing at St Candida’s Church.
Their reason for moving from Abbeyvale came out of the blue, they had been perfectly happy where they lived and she remained fulfilled in her job, but within a matter of weeks her job came under threat as the local trust were rationalizing services so she started putting feelers out and within a week she had an interview in Shallowfield.
Harriet and Nathan moved into number 1 Folly Cottages just before Christmas, the previous occupant was one of her new bosses Dr Claire Lutchford, who now lived on the other side of the lake with her new husband and they fell in love with the cottage instantly.
Originally there were six dwellings but after conversion there were now three terraced cottages and they were situated high above the northern perimeter road in a rocky glade.
The two end ones had two bedroom and the one in the middle had one.
Once upon a time they were home to peasants who worked the woods but now the peasantry couldn’t afford to live anywhere near the lake.
The view of the lake was spectacular although they couldn’t see it all or discern the teardrop shape that gave the lake its name. But the view of the surrounding ancient woodland of the Dancingdean Forest was majestic.
Although much of the modest body of water was obscured from view it was still quite beautiful and relatively unspoilt which was why the she instantly fell in love with the place, and as there was snow on the ground the scene was very picturesque.
Teardrop Lake and the surrounding woodland was privately owned and divided into twelve parcels each with one significant dwelling although there were a number of cottages dotted around the woodland.
It was both idyllic and peaceful, there was little or no noise pollution and they had been reliably informed that although the lake was used there were no speed boats or jet skis, only rowing boats, canoes, dinghies and skiffs.
“What a perfect place to raise a child” Nathan said when they first looked out across the lake.
“If only” she replied sadly
“It’s just a matter of time sweetheart” he said reassuringly
“But time is running out” she replied, so he just hugged her
Fortunately Harriet was not the only new starter at the health centre or the only newbie to the area.
Elena Fedeli who was the new district nurse moved into number 3 a couple of days after the Robinsons.
However whereas Harriet’s move had been forced upon her Elena had been looking for a change.
As they both moved in before Christmas and weren’t due to start work until the New Year and as they were neighbours the two new girls gravitated towards each other especially as Nathan was only around at the weekend for the first week until the end of the semester.
Eva Christodoulou and Siti Shahara, who lived in number 2, also worked at the health centre, volunteered to show the new girls around and help them get their bearings and settle in.
(Part 04)
When they moved to Teardrop they had been together for over 7 years and married for 6, Harry was fast approaching her 37th birthday and she was convinced she could literally hear her biological clock ticking.
They had been trying for a family ever since they were married but it just wasn’t happening for them.
43 years old Nathan was medium height, slim build and had thinning sandy hair and grey eyes.
He loved her very much but he didn’t feel the same time pressure that his wife did but he was desperate to make her happy.
They had undergone all the tests imaginable but there was nothing physically wrong with either of them and everything was in good working order.
And a lack of trying was also not the problem and the love making was as great as it had always been and they didn’t stint on the quantity,
But it was all to no avail, but it didn’t prevent them from trying.
After a very active first Christmas in their new home on the Lake, the mad girls in number 2 made sure they had an enjoyable Christmas.
Harriet was really pleased that she wasn’t starting the new job on her own and she knew Elena felt the same way.
They both slotted right in at the Heath Centre and they soon found that the rest of the staff were just as friendly as their new neighbours were.
When she first walked through the doors of the Health Centre she felt instantly at home and it took Harriet no time at all to settle into a comfortable routine at work and find the natural rhythm of life on the Lake.
And in a matter of weeks it was as if they had lived there forever.
Almost as soon as her boss Olivia realised Nathan was a Professor of Music she kept making references to her about the Church choir and dropping hints about the need for someone with a professional ear to champion the Church music, but then she was married to the Vicar.
Eventually after a month or two the drip, drip, drip of Olivia’s Chinese water torture technique paid off and she succumbed or to be more accurate she made Nathan succumb and he took control of St Mary’s church choir.
As it turned out it was just what the Robinson’s needed something to put their collective efforts into, a common interest and a distraction from what was consuming her every waking thought, her failure as a woman.
As a member of the choir she threw herself into it body and soul and managed to put everything else out of her mind.
She even managed to persuade Elena to join and they were side by side when, on Easter Sunday, Nathan debuted as Choir master.
After Easter, life continued in much the same way until the summer festivities filled the calendar.
It began as it did every year on Teardrop Lake with Lynn Cooper’s birthday BBQ at Coopers Villa on the first of May and ended at the Shallowfield Lodge Hotel in September for Rob and Sheryl Browns Wedding Anniversary party.
It had been such a busy summer with the seemingly endless round of Hog Roasts and BBQ’s, parties and picnics that it wasn’t until summer drifted relentlessly into autumn that the hopeless longing for a child struck her again.
Nathan tried desperately to lift her spirits and for his sake she put on a brave face but inside she was dying.
There were other distractions in September such as
Olivia Shenton’s Wedding Anniversary and Chantelle Dooney’s birthday and Siti Shahara’s also had one in October, but overall not enough.
Throughout October at the health centre the main topic of conversation was the upcoming Lutchford’s Annual Fancy Dress Halloween party at Forest Lodge, to which all the staff were invited.
The talk was primarily of what costumes would be worn but more interestingly the gossip was mainly about past misdemeanours.
(Part 05)
Everyone at the health centre apart from Elena Fedeli and the Vicar’s wife Olivia were going to the Halloween Party at the Lutchford’s and the two of them left work early for the church as they had chosen instead to attend the Halloween celebrations at St Mary’s.
Nathan and Harriet, both conscious of each other’s feeling of inadequacy, but were equally unable to discuss “the elephant in the room”.
So as the Halloween party approached, they had both independently developed a plan designed to cheer the other one up.
Nathan was already at home when Harriet arrived and was busy in the kitchen.
“Hi Hun” she called as she walked through the door
“Something smells good”
“That must be me” he said
“Nah it’s definitely something nice” Harriet retorted
After they’d eaten and cleared away they went into separate rooms to change.
When they were ready they emerged simultaneously onto the landing, the result of which caused hysterical laughter when they discovered what the other was wearing.
Harriet was dressed as a vampire and Nathan was wearing a chicken suit.
The laughter continued as they went downstairs into the lounge in fact it only stopped when they kissed, which was prolonged and passionate.
In fact the kissing lead to a horny vampire straddling a prostrated chicken on the lounge carpet.
Needless to say they were late arriving at the party.
That lustful Halloween Night seemed to have put the destructive thoughts of inadequacy into the shade, at least for a while and then as November progressed thoughts of Christmas took over and became all consuming, it was after all a celebration of their first year on the Lake.
It was the week before Christmas and Nathan had finished work for the holiday and was looking forward to his long break as he was off until the New Year.
And as Christmas was fast approaching he was taking full advantage of the fact that Harry was at work so he could wrap her presents.
He had just safely placed the wrapped gifts under the tree when he heard her car pull up outside the cottage.
She was home early so he quickly tidied away the wrapping paper, scissors and sellotape, and had just sat down on the sofa as she came through the door.
“Hi Hun” she said
“Hello darling” he replied “are you ok?”
“No I’m a bit queasy” she replied
“That’s not good for a vampire to get queasy at the site of blood” he said flippantly
“It wasn’t the blood” she retorted
“Was it the needles then? Are you turning into a chicken?” he said and chuckled
“No it’s not the needles” she stated and sat down beside him “there are other things that can cause queasiness in the morning”
“I know Hun, like too much Pernod the night before” Nathan said
“Yes but what else causes sickness in the morning?” She asked him leadingly
“Apart from a dodgy kebab, or 6 pints of Guinness, I don’t know” he said “what could cause morning sick...”
She sat looking at him patiently as the penny finally dropped
“You’re pregnant” he said
“Well done Professor”
“You’re pregnant” he squealed and then he kissed her
“We’re having a little musician” he said proudly
“Or a little health professional”
She added and he kissed her again
“So how pregnant are you?” he asked her later “when was it, you know”
“I think we both know the answer to that” she said
“Halloween” they said in unison
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