back in an hour.’ When they had done as they were told she knelt beside the sofa, picked the cup up out of its saucer and held the rim to Bertha’s lips so she could take a few sips.
After she had had her fill for the time being, Bertha looked gratefully at Aidy and in a weak voice said, ‘Strong and sweet, just what the doctor ordered. Thanks, me duck.’ Her face then clouded over. ‘Talking of doctors, there’ll be a bill of his to settle. I’m hoping there’s enough to cover it in me remedy tin.’
‘Don’t worry about that now, Gran. I told him I’d sort it out, and I will as soon as I can. I could tell he wasn’t happy about that, but it’s hard luck ’cos we can’t give him what we haven’t got, can we?’ There was still an outstanding fee from his visit to her mother that Aidy hadn’t settled, and he’d have to wait for that too. More important things had to be paid for out of her wage first, like the rent and food.
Bertha pulled a face. ‘I don’t know quite what to make of the new doctor. He seems to know his stuff, didn’t take him long to work out what I was ailing from and get me sorted, but he was very brusque, made me feel like I was an inconvenience to him. He comes from money, judging by the posh voice he’s got. And his clothes might be old but they’re the best quality. I wonder why his sort has come to live and work round these parts?’
Aidy gave a nonchalant shrug. ‘I don’t know, Gran, and I don’t really care. I don’t like him. He spoke to me in a manner you wouldn’t address a dog in when I went to fetch him for Mam and yourself. Anyway, considering the pain you must have been in at the time, still are for that matter, you noticed a lot about him?’
‘Well, I had to concentrate me mind on something while he was resetting me bones.’ Bertha seemed intrigued. ‘There’s a story behind that new doctor coming here, I’d bet my life there is. Someone with his obvious breeding doesn’t voluntarily give up the high life to slum it with us.’
Aidy had no time to waste on conversation about a person she didn’t care a jot for. ‘Can I get you anything else?’ she offered.
‘You can, if you don’t mind. Could you make me a bread and vinegar poultice to put on me bruises, to help bring them out and ease the throbbing? Also, from me store in the pantry, can you bring me through the bottle with “Headache Relief” on the label?’
Aidy looked at her quizzically. ‘What do you want that for?’
‘Help with the pain, ducky.’
‘But aren’t the pills the Doc gave you, to tide you over, helping at all? I’m going to the chemist for the rest tomorrow.’ She was already worried whether she had enough money in her purse to cover that outlay, along with what food they’d need until she got her next pay in two days’ time.
Bertha was pulling a face. ‘The pills and prescription are for morphine. I’ve seen what that does to people. I’d sooner be in the pain I am than end up reliant on that stuff. And I’m not giving the pharmacist any of my hard-earned money when I can sort meself out.’
Aidy couldn’t believe her grandmother had endured the agony of her broken bones and their resetting without any strong relief. She could, though, see Bertha’s reasoning for the refusal, but regardless said, ‘You will promise to take the pills the Doc gave you if your own remedy doesn’t work, though?’ She saw the look Bertha shot her and quickly added, ‘I didn’t mean your remedies aren’t any good, Gran, I know they are as they’ve sorted my ailments out enough times over the years, but the pain you’re suffering is not just a headache and your remedy might not be strong enough to ease it. So you will, won’t you?
Bertha was in far more pain than ever she would let on to her granddaughter, but to be knocked into oblivion by the effects of morphine was not an option she’d choose. To appease Aidy, though, she said, ‘Yes, all right.’
‘Good. Now I soak the bread in hot water with a good measure of vinegar … that’s how I make the poultice, isn’t it?’
Bertha nodded and quipped, ‘And there’s me