The Islands in the Bay – Chapter (200) Attraction to the Max

 

April

 

Matthew Brookfield was a native Beaumont Islander, but he was no longer a resident, but he had been brought home in order to visit his sister Shirley who was waiting to undergo major heart surgery.

In fact, it had brought him back to the country, from sunnier climes where he had been filming his TV Show.

When he got to the Bellevue Cottage Hospital he went straight upstairs to the private room he had arranged for her and found her lying in bed with wires and tubes coming out of her, he hadn’t seen her since Christmas and she had deteriorated severely since then, and he had to fight back the tears.

“Blimey sis, I’ve seen net caught tuna in better condition” he said, and he embraced his brother-in-law Trevor before taking hold of Shirley’s hand.

“Thanks Mark, that’s just what I needed, comparing me to a dead fish.”

“The fish lived” he assured her and kissed her.

She was about to utter a contradiction but then a very attractive female Doctor entered, Dr M. M. Flaxmer according to her name tag, and he made a quick appraisal, as if she were a game fish, albeit one with a pretty face, blue eyes, and soft shoulder length brown hair.

He ascertained her to be 5t 3 or 4, early thirties, a nice figure, everything where it should be, equally proportioned, and an exceptionally good catch, who was emitting a very subtle yet exotic perfume every time she moved.

A brief introduction followed and then he had to leave while they did all the medical stuff.

“I’ll go and grab a coffee and come back later” he said.

 

When he returned half an hour later there was no sign of the sweet-smelling Doctor and nor did she appear over the following two hours he was there.

Shirley had begun to tire so he said his farewell, and promised to see her the next morning, and stay with her until the surgery which was scheduled for midday.

 

He was staying at the Beaumont Manor Hotel, which boasted an excellent restaurant, but as he travelled a lot for his job he had eaten in excellent restaurants in all four corners of the world.

What he really craved was something he could only get in St Pierre, an Emperor burger from Ceasars Burger Bar.

 

Having sufficiently filled the hollow with reconstituted meat, saturated fats, and carbohydrates he ambled his way to the Hotel which was close to the Hospital.

When he reached the Hotel he found it was very busy, and according to the signage it was due to someone’s Wedding Day, and there was an event going on in the main function room.

Matthew decided on a nightcap before bed and sat at the bar, drinking a large Gin and Tonic while doing a spot of people watching, which was when a voice broke in.

“Matthew Brookfield?” they said and when he turned around he saw that the voice belonged to an attractive looking woman, pretty face, blue eyes, soft brown hair, 5t 3 or 4, early thirties, nice figure, wearing a black cocktail dress and heels, whom he didn’t recognize.

It was clearly a woman he’d met at some function or other, an encounter so unmemorable he instantly forgot her, which was embarrassing, but an occupational hazard, or maybe she was some fan of the show that he had never met and just wanted an autograph or a selfie, and then it registered.

“Dr Flaxmer” he replied, not a random woman he’d met and instantly forgotten or an intrusive fan, phew she was Shirley’s Doctor.

“Do you mind if I join you?” she asked.

“Not at all” he said, “please do” and gestured to the neighboring stool.

“Can I get you a drink?” Matthew asked.

“Thank you, yes,” she said and to the barman who had miraculously appeared “Bitter lemon please, ice and a slice.”

“And for you sir?” he asked.

“I’ll have the same again please.”

While they waited for their drinks she asked

“Did you enjoy the food? The restaurant here is marvelous” she said and in response to his expression she added.

“Didn’t you eat here?”

“No, I have to confess I did not” he replied sheepishly, then he went on to explain where he had actually eaten and the reasoning behind it and she laughed a rather delightful laugh in response to his confession.

“Well, they are the best burgers in the world” she said.

“Is that your medical opinion Doctor?”

“No, merely that of someone who has consumed her fair share of Emperor Burgers” She replied, “And please call me Max, I try to play down the Doctor bit when I’m out.”

“Oh, why’s that?”

“Well people have an annoying habit of telling me about their complaints” she replied, and he laughed.

“Your sister told me that you’re famous” she said and qualified it by adding “in the fishing world.”

“I am”

“Well, I bet when you go out and you get recognized, the worst that happens is people ask you about bait or lures, I get shown body parts, with lumps bumps and rashes.”

And then came her delightful laugh again.

 

When they had both stopped laughing he said

“On your name tag earlier, it said M.M. Flaxmer.”

“That’s correct”

“So where does Max fit?” he asked, “Is it the first M or the second?” 

“Maxine, is my middle name,” she replied and then in a hushed tone added “My first name is Millicent, and I really don’t like it.”

Matthew sniggered.

“So why are you staying here anyway?” He asked, “and wearing your formal Ceasar Burger Bar evening wear, stunning by the way.”

“Thank you for the compliment, in answer to your first question, I don’t live on the island, so I always stay here when I’m consulting in cardiology, and secondly I have been attending the wedding reception of a colleague.”

“Well, that makes sense, would you like another drink?” he asked, and she checked her watch.

“I would but can I be a pain and have a cup of tea?”

“Of course,”

As they waited for the drinks she asked

“Shirley said that you have an agent.”

He nodded superciliously.

“I didn’t know that fishermen needed agents.”

“Well, the agent is more for the media side than the fishing” he explained.

“So let me get this straight, you go fishing and they film you doing it, and people actually watch that?”

“We all have to make a living” he said, and she laughed her delicious laugh.

“So, do you not like fishing?” he asked.

“I’ve never fished.”

“Really?”

“No never, I wouldn’t have a clue how to do it” she said.

“Well, you just need a good teacher” Matthew said.

“Are you offering?”

“I’m game if you are” he said.

“That’s a date then” Max confirmed and then glanced at her watch.

“I’m sorry but I really must get to bed, I’ll look a proper fright in the morning.”

“I find that hard to believe” he said, and she blushed as she slipped off her barstool.

“Allow me to escort you” he said, “In case you get approached by infectious patients who want to show you their boils.”

“Yes best to be on the safe side” she agreed and giggled, then he escorted her to her door, via the lift, and after saying good night he kissed her cheek.