Chapter Six
‘James Mountford’
Nancy opened her door to find a man who looked around sixty years of age standing there. At first her heart skipped a beat as she started to believe that she was looking at a ghost; an approximate likeness of her deceased husband Sam, only this man had a beard. While the likeness wasn’t identical it nevertheless was close enough to take the wind out of Nancy's sails.
The man politely introduced himself as James Mountford and expressed relief at last catching her at home. His speech suggested that he was well educated and his attire would have sat easily in the wardrobe of any middle-class solicitor or provincial bank manager.
After being invited into Nancy’s house, her guest being a man of few words came straight to the point. Looking at Nancy he said, ”You’ll no doubt be wondering as to the purpose of my visit Mrs Swales, but having only recently discovered a connection between us both, it would have been remiss of me in the extreme to have let the opportunity pass by without seeking you out, so to speak.”
“A connection you say Mr. Mountford?” Nancy asked in a curious tone. Her mind was in the process of trying to guess what revelation the familiar stranger was about to reveal.
“To come straight to the point, we are related so to speak through your marriage to my brother the late Samuel Mountford. Samuel was my twin brother, but because our mother was unable to care for us after our birth, we were placed with the nuns for fostering out and were eventually split up before our first birthday had been and gone.”
The man politely introduced himself as James Mountford and expressed relief at last catching her at home. His speech suggested that he was well educated and his attire would have sat easily in the wardrobe of any middle-class solicitor or provincial bank manager.
After being invited into Nancy’s house, her guest being a man of few words came straight to the point. Looking at Nancy he said, ”You’ll no doubt be wondering as to the purpose of my visit Mrs Swales, but having only recently discovered a connection between us both, it would have been remiss of me in the extreme to have let the opportunity pass by without seeking you out, so to speak.”
“A connection you say Mr. Mountford?” Nancy asked in a curious tone. Her mind was in the process of trying to guess what revelation the familiar stranger was about to reveal.
“To come straight to the point, we are related so to speak through your marriage to my brother the late Samuel Mountford. Samuel was my twin brother, but because our mother was unable to care for us after our birth, we were placed with the nuns for fostering out and were eventually split up before our first birthday had been and gone.”
“But my husband was Sam Swales, not Samuel Mountford,” Nancy stated in a puzzled voice.
“No doubt he finished up with that name,” James Mountford added, “but he started his life off as Samuel Mountford; take it from me.”
Upon hearing this news Nancy didn’t quite know how best to respond. A part of her was naturally pleased to have discovered a blood brother to her deceased husband. The more she looked at James Mountford the more she could see the familiarity of her husband’s features in his face. Another part of her produced a sensation of guilt though. She had only just started a relationship with another man and she wasn’t quite sure how the twin brother of her deceased husband might take such news.
As the couple talked over the next hour, Nancy revealed her love of dancing and how she had found some new meaning in life once again since the death of Sam. She also told her brother-in-law that while she hadn’t actively sought it, she had also rediscovered love in the arms of another man.
Upon hearing of this recent development in her life, James smiled warmly and indicated his sincere pleasure for her and Richard’s future happiness. Nancy eventually got around to telling James about their dashed hopes of winning the ‘All Ireland Ballroom Dance Trophy’ now that Richard had damaged himself.
Upon hearing about the type of injury that Richard had incurred and the medical prognosis of the consultant he had received, James expressed a keenness to know more.
“No doubt he finished up with that name,” James Mountford added, “but he started his life off as Samuel Mountford; take it from me.”
Upon hearing this news Nancy didn’t quite know how best to respond. A part of her was naturally pleased to have discovered a blood brother to her deceased husband. The more she looked at James Mountford the more she could see the familiarity of her husband’s features in his face. Another part of her produced a sensation of guilt though. She had only just started a relationship with another man and she wasn’t quite sure how the twin brother of her deceased husband might take such news.
As the couple talked over the next hour, Nancy revealed her love of dancing and how she had found some new meaning in life once again since the death of Sam. She also told her brother-in-law that while she hadn’t actively sought it, she had also rediscovered love in the arms of another man.
Upon hearing of this recent development in her life, James smiled warmly and indicated his sincere pleasure for her and Richard’s future happiness. Nancy eventually got around to telling James about their dashed hopes of winning the ‘All Ireland Ballroom Dance Trophy’ now that Richard had damaged himself.
Upon hearing about the type of injury that Richard had incurred and the medical prognosis of the consultant he had received, James expressed a keenness to know more.
James told Nancy that though he’d started his working life as a physiotherapist in the field of sport, he had eventually developed an interest in and had moved into the field of osteopathy. James indicated that the profession of osteopath was viewed too cynically by many in the field of medicine. He said that many of the medical profession still considered his breed of work to be nothing less than dangerous quackery, while adding that he had in his time been able to help a considerable number of people whom otherwise would have been left in much pain for far too long before their condition had improved through a regime of stillness and forced rest.
James thanked Nancy for having seen him and provided her with an address and contact number from which she could reach him in future if she wanted to. He also indicated that he would be prepared to see Richard at a future date if Richard felt that he might be of any help.
James thanked Nancy for having seen him and provided her with an address and contact number from which she could reach him in future if she wanted to. He also indicated that he would be prepared to see Richard at a future date if Richard felt that he might be of any help.
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Three days later, Nancy returned to Richard in County Kerry to stay with him and nurse him. Even three days had produced a sense of absence and loss that she would not have previously believed possible had she not experienced it. It told Nancy that she and Richard were not meant to be apart for a day longer in her life than need be.
Richard was still laid up in considerable pain and while the doctor had agreed to call in and visit him weekly, enforced rest and stillness was the medical instruction of the day. One night when Richard was asleep, Nancy was so worried that she got up and had a cigarette as she thought and thought. She had given up smoking for five years now and had for some strange reason found herself buying a packet when she last went home to Portlaw after Sam's brother had visited her.
Over the coming days Nancy told Richard about the visit to her home in Portlaw by Richard’s twin brother; the brother that neither he nor she had previously heard of and the one that he would never know.
Richard was still laid up in considerable pain and while the doctor had agreed to call in and visit him weekly, enforced rest and stillness was the medical instruction of the day. One night when Richard was asleep, Nancy was so worried that she got up and had a cigarette as she thought and thought. She had given up smoking for five years now and had for some strange reason found herself buying a packet when she last went home to Portlaw after Sam's brother had visited her.
Over the coming days Nancy told Richard about the visit to her home in Portlaw by Richard’s twin brother; the brother that neither he nor she had previously heard of and the one that he would never know.
When Nancy told Richard of her brother-in-law’s occupation as an osteopath, his ears pricked up in added interest. In spite of having been medically advised not to have any dealings with such ‘quackery’, Richard had heard of many past incidents where osteopaths had successfully assisted in the manipulation of bones, which had resulted in the resumption of the patient’s immediate mobility instead of following the conventional and medically approved pathway of enforced stillness and rest.
“Do you think he would see me?” Richard asked Nancy adding, ”He might be able to help where conventional medicine cannot!”
“He offered to see you if you wanted him to”, Nancy replied.
“Then let’s do it, Nancy. Let’s do it!” Richard said. "Please ask him to visit."
“Do you think he would see me?” Richard asked Nancy adding, ”He might be able to help where conventional medicine cannot!”
“He offered to see you if you wanted him to”, Nancy replied.
“Then let’s do it, Nancy. Let’s do it!” Richard said. "Please ask him to visit."
Nancy contacted Richard by letter that night and within the week he’d replied and had agreed to visit Richard the following weekend. The week leading up to James Mountford’s visit left Nancy and Richard doing much talking. It provided the couple with a slight glimmer of hope that a miracle could be achieved that might see Richard up on his feet before the year was out.
When the weekend of James’ visit arrived, both Nancy and Richard awaited with some trepidation. After carefully examining Richard over a period of a good hour, James held out slim prospects of being able to effect a long-term cure for Richard’s current immobile state of being through manipulation alone.
“I'm afraid it’s not the type of news that I like to have to give Richard, but your consultant is right when he tells you how serious your condition is. From my own careful examination of your entire spine and back, it appears that your slipped disc has prolapsed in the lumbar part of the spine and the large size of the prolapsed disc strongly suggests that it cannot be corrected on a long term basis without recourse to an operation. Indeed, even to try might worsen your overall condition,” James told him in a serious tone of voice.”
It hurt Richard and Nancy immensely to hear such news from James after he had initially held out the prospect of being able to possibly help.
“Never mind Richard,” Nancy told him lovingly as she went to cuddle him. “You are here and alive and thank God we have that to be grateful for. What need have we of dancing trophies at our stage of life anyway? What need have we of such vanities when we have each other?”
When the weekend of James’ visit arrived, both Nancy and Richard awaited with some trepidation. After carefully examining Richard over a period of a good hour, James held out slim prospects of being able to effect a long-term cure for Richard’s current immobile state of being through manipulation alone.
“I'm afraid it’s not the type of news that I like to have to give Richard, but your consultant is right when he tells you how serious your condition is. From my own careful examination of your entire spine and back, it appears that your slipped disc has prolapsed in the lumbar part of the spine and the large size of the prolapsed disc strongly suggests that it cannot be corrected on a long term basis without recourse to an operation. Indeed, even to try might worsen your overall condition,” James told him in a serious tone of voice.”
It hurt Richard and Nancy immensely to hear such news from James after he had initially held out the prospect of being able to possibly help.
“Never mind Richard,” Nancy told him lovingly as she went to cuddle him. “You are here and alive and thank God we have that to be grateful for. What need have we of dancing trophies at our stage of life anyway? What need have we of such vanities when we have each other?”
Whatever Nancy said though could not remove the look of bitter disappointment on Richard’s face to learn that never again would he dance upon the floor with her. Never would he hold the ‘All Ireland Ballroom Trophy’ in his hands as victor. He knew that this year had been his best and last chance to win the trophy.
A tear appeared in his eye and for a moment he seemed resigned to draw last breath without an ounce of resistance there and then. Nancy also felt bitterly disappointed at James' prognosis, but had not built up her hopes as much as Richard prior to her brother-in-law's visit. Although she would have welcomed winning the dancing trophy with Richard, it was his dream that had been smashed, not hers.
“I’m so sorry Nancy that we couldn’t enter the final,” Richard said apologetically to her. “I’m so sorry that James here wasn’t able to get me up on the floor for one last night of dance!”
“I never said that I was unable to get you up on your feet for one last night of dance, Richard,” James Mountford said. “I feel sure that I could. But to do so would undoubtedly risk you never being able to walk again and it could cost you irreparable damage.”
Richard looked earnestly at Nancy and she instantly recognised the thought that her love was silently voicing in her direction. Nancy reluctantly nodded her approval to Richard in the full realisation that to deny him this wish would crush him forever. She knew that she could live the remainder of her life with a man who was unable to walk, but could never live life with a man of bitter regret until the day he died.
“Then do it man,” Richard said to James.” Get me up on my feet for one more night of dancing so that Nancy and I can win the trophy and I’ll happily stay bedridden for the rest of my days. Do it man! Do it for me and Nancy, please!” he begged Nancy's brother-in-law.
After convincing himself that Richard was appraised of the grave danger of what he was asking him to do as well as Nancy, it was only after his sister-in-law said, "Better to have loved and lost than never loved at all James! Better to have danced and won than to spend the rest of one’s life dreaming of what could have been! Without the fulfilment of this dream, my Richard will feel less fulfilled, less of the man he was meant to be whether it leaves him crippled or not in the achieving of it. Furthermore, without me being woman enough to him to recognise this, I might as well have never danced with him at all. So please do what you can to get him back up on his two feet for the final, James. Please enable us to have this last dance together, whatever the consequences”.
After satisfying himself that both adults knew the potential consequences of what they were asking him, James reluctantly agreed to perform the required manipulation of the spine and lumbar region of Richard's prolapsed disc.
A tear appeared in his eye and for a moment he seemed resigned to draw last breath without an ounce of resistance there and then. Nancy also felt bitterly disappointed at James' prognosis, but had not built up her hopes as much as Richard prior to her brother-in-law's visit. Although she would have welcomed winning the dancing trophy with Richard, it was his dream that had been smashed, not hers.
“I’m so sorry Nancy that we couldn’t enter the final,” Richard said apologetically to her. “I’m so sorry that James here wasn’t able to get me up on the floor for one last night of dance!”
“I never said that I was unable to get you up on your feet for one last night of dance, Richard,” James Mountford said. “I feel sure that I could. But to do so would undoubtedly risk you never being able to walk again and it could cost you irreparable damage.”
Richard looked earnestly at Nancy and she instantly recognised the thought that her love was silently voicing in her direction. Nancy reluctantly nodded her approval to Richard in the full realisation that to deny him this wish would crush him forever. She knew that she could live the remainder of her life with a man who was unable to walk, but could never live life with a man of bitter regret until the day he died.
“Then do it man,” Richard said to James.” Get me up on my feet for one more night of dancing so that Nancy and I can win the trophy and I’ll happily stay bedridden for the rest of my days. Do it man! Do it for me and Nancy, please!” he begged Nancy's brother-in-law.
After convincing himself that Richard was appraised of the grave danger of what he was asking him to do as well as Nancy, it was only after his sister-in-law said, "Better to have loved and lost than never loved at all James! Better to have danced and won than to spend the rest of one’s life dreaming of what could have been! Without the fulfilment of this dream, my Richard will feel less fulfilled, less of the man he was meant to be whether it leaves him crippled or not in the achieving of it. Furthermore, without me being woman enough to him to recognise this, I might as well have never danced with him at all. So please do what you can to get him back up on his two feet for the final, James. Please enable us to have this last dance together, whatever the consequences”.
After satisfying himself that both adults knew the potential consequences of what they were asking him, James reluctantly agreed to perform the required manipulation of the spine and lumbar region of Richard's prolapsed disc.
James wanted Richard and Nancy to sleep upon this decision for twenty four hours before he agreed to try and get him back up on his feet in time for the dance final. James was offered the spare room that Saturday night and Nancy slept on the couch in Richard’s bedroom. Since his recent accident, they dared not risk sharing the same bed.
The next day witnessed no change of heart by the couple and seeing that they each remained resigned, after breakfast James prepared to manipulate the areas of Richard’s back and spine. He warned him that during the final manipulation, he would hear a large crack as the prolapsed disc was brought back into place and that for a few brief moments the pain would be excruciating. Then he placed a leather strap inside Richard's mouth and requested that he clench it tight between his teeth.
Half an hour later James emerged from Richard’s bedroom and indicated to Nancy that he’d successfully manipulated the slipped disc prolapse into its rightful place. He advised that Richard took it extremely easy over the next week and moved around as little as possible until he'd built up his body strength and mobility once more. Richard and Nancy were warned that under no circumstances were they to practise their dancing routine before the night of the final, as to do so might result in another and more severe prolapse that could never be surgically operated on. Richard was again reminded of the gravest of prospects he faced in over-energising himself on the dance floor.
“I have hopefully bought you one evening where you can dance your five Latin American numbers for the last time,” James said, “But at what price, only time can tell and God only knows! All rests in the balance I'm afraid if Richard chooses to risk dancing again at competition level.”
“We are so grateful to you for having provided us with this opportunity, James,” Richard replied, “So grateful. Please don't worry. Whatever the outcome there will be no fall out in your direction. Nobody will ever know of your involvement," Richard assured James.
The next day witnessed no change of heart by the couple and seeing that they each remained resigned, after breakfast James prepared to manipulate the areas of Richard’s back and spine. He warned him that during the final manipulation, he would hear a large crack as the prolapsed disc was brought back into place and that for a few brief moments the pain would be excruciating. Then he placed a leather strap inside Richard's mouth and requested that he clench it tight between his teeth.
Half an hour later James emerged from Richard’s bedroom and indicated to Nancy that he’d successfully manipulated the slipped disc prolapse into its rightful place. He advised that Richard took it extremely easy over the next week and moved around as little as possible until he'd built up his body strength and mobility once more. Richard and Nancy were warned that under no circumstances were they to practise their dancing routine before the night of the final, as to do so might result in another and more severe prolapse that could never be surgically operated on. Richard was again reminded of the gravest of prospects he faced in over-energising himself on the dance floor.
“I have hopefully bought you one evening where you can dance your five Latin American numbers for the last time,” James said, “But at what price, only time can tell and God only knows! All rests in the balance I'm afraid if Richard chooses to risk dancing again at competition level.”
“We are so grateful to you for having provided us with this opportunity, James,” Richard replied, “So grateful. Please don't worry. Whatever the outcome there will be no fall out in your direction. Nobody will ever know of your involvement," Richard assured James.
