Opportunity Knocks

About that time Dr. Terrance Claridge, the only doctor in this small town was joined by his son Ricky who’d departed fifteen years earlier to take up medical studies and worked his way and studied medicine. He was helped in a limited way by his father as the doctor charged a reasonable fee for service and treated the very poor for free. The town served a wide rural district and had slowly grown over the fifteen years Rick had been away working toward graduation, then doing his residency in the city and working for a while in private practice to build a modest wealth of his own. Learning of his father’s plan to retire in two years his heart went back to this community he’d spent his early years with happily. When his father approached him about taking over the practice, he eagerly accepted the challenge. It would be an easy transition as everyone knew him.

On Rick’s return he bumped into Clover in the supermarket. They’d grown up together and each was happy to make the reconnection. In that they were both single they began to take pleasure in each other’s company when not working and took Lucy everywhere with them when they went out together and she felt like joining them. In the process of these meetings Rick learned of Lucy’s ambition and convinced his father to take her into the practice to do some of the office work and watch as they interviewed and performed small medical procedures to see if she really had an aptitude for this kind of career. Lucy grasped every opportunity to watch and learn taking a year off to work at the practice before joining a university where a scholarship could be obtained. She was willing to get a job to support herself as she studied. Dr Claridge and his son were impressed with the way she pored over medical books in her spare time and took and intense interest in their medical practice. They consulted together and then approached Clover offering to pay toward her upkeep during medical studies and actively look for a university medical scholarship to help advance her career. Clover went home and looked carefully at her finances. As an elementary school teacher, she was not paid a princely sum, but she’d been satisfied with that up to now. She approached the principal for a raise in pay and to her surprise after consulting with the school board her request was granted. She dedicated this extra salary to Lucy’s education and informed Rick she’d contribute too.

To her surprise Rick put his arms around her and kissed her on the cheek thanking her for joining the doctors in sponsoring this girl. Both were in their thirties now and each had given up on any thought of marriage. They were married to their careers. But that kiss produced a strange feeling in both Rick and Clover that had not surfaced in their life before. It had been all work and no time for any thought of finding a partner in life. It’s not that Clover hadn’t received attempts to get her favor as she was still very attractive, but she’d not responded to their advances, and they’d pursued others and eventually married. After that Rick began to pursue her more purposefully and Clover welcomed his advances positively. Then one day Rick plucked up courage and asked for her hand in marriage and Clover said yes. She’d expected him to ask for several weeks now and looked forward hopefully to that happy occasion.

So, Lucy departed for medical college with scholarship in place and monthly allowance flowing from her benefactors which she appreciated greatly working hard at whatever job was offered and studying diligently. She was doing this for her mother’s memory hoping someday to be on the cutting edge of research to bring a better quality of life and extended years to those she served in this profession.

Clover missed Lucy who she’d come to love dearly and listened with pride to the regular reports from Lucy outlining her progress and the successful finishing of each segment of her course of studies. She was soon recognized as one of the top students and word filtered back to Rick and his father that this was an exceptional woman they were supporting along with the continuation of her medical scholarships.

A year after Rick and Clover married Rick with his practiced eye noted some signs in his wife that bought him joy. He was to become a father but realized that in their thirties they’d need to be cautious as it was getting to be beyond the age where complications in childbirth were more likely. Clover was a no-nonsense woman and refused to be pampered following her usual exercise routines and work habits, but she wanted this baby and listened to Rick as he expressed concerns about her and the future child. All went well and in the appointed time the child was born. Healthy and strong with his father’s features. They named him Terry after the senior Dr. Claridge. Then two years later an unplanned additional child eventuated this time a daughter and they named her Mary after Lucy’s mother. This delivery was more complicated, and Clover found herself struggling in the aftermath. Rick was firm. No more children, his wife was too important to him to risk her health in producing another child.  Lucy was overjoyed at this name honor and took a few days off school to hasten home to see her mother’s namesake thanking Rick and Clover for the honor.

The two years Dr. Claridge senior had agreed to stay on while Rick settled into the job came and went but the old doctor decided to stay on a few days in the week to give Rick some time off this sometime stressful work. He was still in reasonable health and enjoyed the interaction with all the patients he’d served over his life as a doctor in this town. But eventually the old man had to realize his limitations as he aged and go into retirement. He’d been a widower for over thirty years now as his wife had succumbed to a lung infection that no medications have been able to handle. She’d helped him in the practice as practice manager and nurse and he’d had to employ people to take her place all these years. While friends had suggested he needed to consider another marriage to help him with the heavy load he carried he could not bring himself to do that as his love for his wife Alice could not be substituted. Nevertheless, Terrance enjoyed his daily interactions with retirees he’d served during his productive years but now confined these interactions to card games and meetings at the tavern to talk over old times. He was also a regular visitor to his grandchildren. Clover gave up teaching to raise her children and enjoyed the daily challenges in doing so. She was extremely happy in her marriage and helped her husband as best she could when grandpa was looking after the children taking them back and forth to school and looking after them when Clover was in the clinic helping out. Clover wished her own parents had survived to see her joy now. They’d been involved in a car accident that took their lives after she’d been teaching for a few years and as citizens of the town they were greatly grieved by all who knew them. The townsfolk had rallied to Clover’s side as she grieved, and she loved them all for that.

Over the years Lucy prospered and met success at every stage of her career development. At first her aim had been to return to the town she grew up in but slowly gravitated to research on the cutting edge and was continuously learning. She determined not to get married as there was just no time for her to give to a family and the only place her career could happen was large cities where facilities were available to expand her horizon in medicine. Years went by and correspondence between Clover and Lucy tapered off as Lucy threw herself completely into the medical field to explore different specialties eventually being invited to teach at university because of her knowledge and experience in practice. It was at the height of her fame and prosperity she in a sleepless night exploring new areas of possible research in her mind suddenly remembered her childhood experiences and the teacher who’d rescued her and given her an entry point into the profession she now was a leading light in. Her conscience smote her as she realized following her passion had completely wiped out the only family who’d made this all happen. Next day she went to the university head and asked for time off. She hadn’t had a holiday since taking up medical studies apart from a quick trip to visit at the birth of her mother’s namesake. Arrangements were made for professors to take the extra load while she took this first real holiday.

She packed a few things and was soon on her way in her Lexus car travelling a thousand miles to her destination her town of birth north in the country. She didn’t give any advance warning she was coming. If there was no place for her to stay the local hotel would have to do even though it did not have all the comforts she was used to now. She was filled with guilt as she recalled how kind everyone had been bringing her to the position she now held today and fame she now enjoyed. Her letters had tapered off to nothing because of her program but letters had arrived faithfully each week from Clover during all that time. Sometimes the accumulated letters were not read for a month as Lucy devoted all her time to her work. Then she’d skim through and get on with her life resolving to respond but never seeming to have time to do that. Her car was loaded with presents to make up for all those years though she realized her benefactor family were simple living people who probably had little time to spend with gimmicky stuff she relied on in work and leisure.

She pulled up in front of the medical practice in town. The whole town had had a facelift in her absence and grown surprisingly. The medical practice had similarly grown with the community and had a face lift too. There was not much she recognized any more. She entered the medical practice suddenly realizing how overdressed she was in comparison to the simple dress of this rural community and absorbed the stares of those waiting in the lounge for attention. Rick’s name appeared at the head of the list followed by two others with different specialties and there was an appendage to the practice now with a blood collection center attached to the center. In the old days the doctor would do all that himself she recalled from her childhood. She went up to the modern counter staffed by two women.

“Would Dr. or Mrs. Claridge be here today by any chance? I’d like to inform them I’m in town.”

The woman at the desk stared at this overdressed city person.

“It’s Dr. Claridge’s day off so he’ll likely be at home with Mrs. Claridge. Can someone else help you? If you need medical help, you’ll have to fill in a form and wait until we can fit you in as all these people have appointments.”

Then Lucy thought of the home she still probably owned but had forgotten about. She hadn’t thought to try there but decided to check out their whereabouts anyway.

“Can you tell me where they live as I need to visit with them, and I’ve just made a thousand-mile journey to do that so am really tired and hope you can help me though I can see you’re very busy.”

The woman smiled and punched in a number on her desk phone.

“Clover this is Eileen and there’s someone here at the desk looking for you who I don’t know so I’ll let you talk with her.”

She handed the phone to Lucy.

“Hi this is Lucy I’ve taken time off and driven a thousand miles to come and see you and the family. Sorry it happened so fast I didn’t think of informing you I was coming.”

She heard a voice shouting at the other end of the line.

“Rick Lucy has arrived in town and is at the medical center looking for us.”

“Lucy you probably won’t be able to find us as we’ve moved to one of the new rural suburbs to get away from the encroachment of the expanding town area. I’m coming to the center to meet you and guide you back to our new home. Of course, you’ll be staying with us as we have extra guest rooms in our new home.”

The line disconnected and Lucy handed the phone back to the receptionist who was looking at her curiously.

“Thank you, I’ll wait outside for Clover to come and guide me to her home. The center looks modern and well run now. Very nice!”

The receptionist went to the door and watched as she saw Lucy head to her luxury car and wait. Then Clover’s Toyota arrived on the horizon, and she tarried to watch the two women make connection. Clover held onto this strange woman and shed tears of joy. The receptionist made her way back to the people lined up at the counter to share this with her fellow receptionist and they speculated as to what this meant.

At home Clover helped Lucy carry her luggage into their modern spacious home. The Claridge family had prospered as the town had prospered. Her bedroom was spacious and well furnished. Rick met them happily and showed them photos of the children who were now quite grown up. About the same age Lucy was when taken under Clover’s protection on her mother’s death. She could hardly wait to meet them specially Mary who carried her mother’s name. How had she repaid them for all the love and financial help given to establish a career beginning for her. She wept loud as she recalled how selfish she’d been in her pursuit of her own goals and Rick and Clover hovered around nervously trying to find ways to comfort her. What had happened to bring this successful career woman here to visit with them unexpectedly and then caused her so much grief.

Lucy let it all out with apologies and intermittent crying and was comforted by Rick and Clover who assured Lucy there was no hard feelings. On the contrary they’d realized that contributing at university level took all the energies she could muster, and they fully understood why the letters had dwindled then stopped. They had no hurt feelings and were just proud their contribution had led to such success to the benefit of society. Lucy deeply moved by their response hugged them over and over and continued to cry. Clover spoke.

“Hush Lucy its unbecoming of you to act this way when you’re in the presence of supporting family. I’m heading off to collect the children from school and I want you to come with me now. Are you comfortable in those clothes or do you want to change into something more relaxing?”

Lucy rushed to change and returned quickly dressed in casual clothes. Then the two women headed for the old school which was now rebuilt and had added grades. The scene was unfamiliar but much better than the buildings she recalled from her childhood. The children looked warily at this woman who they had no recollection of, and Clover introduced Lucy as her dear younger sister. She was glad that at last, they’d be able to get to know each other.

Next morning Lucy woke with a start to sun streaming in the window. This was unheard of as she was normally an early riser to follow her exercise routine and pore over notes to be presented before her student classes at the university medical training wing. She hastily showered and dressed casually as she was on holidays, then moved toward the kitchen where Clover was cleaning up after feeding her husband and children who’d departed. Rick was dropping off the kids at school and doing his routine at the gym before heading for work at the medical center. Clover smiled broadly as she saw a repentant Lucy appear.

“Sit at the counter Lucy I’ve saved pancakes and the toppings I remember you used to like me make for you long ago.”

Lucy sat and began to devour this favorite breakfast of long ago. Her breakfasts in the fast lane were always out of a packet or container now and she realized just how much she’d missed Clover’s cooking. Clover watched her consume what she’d prepared satisfied. Lucy still liked her cooking.

To be continued.

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