Louisa Glasson was unused to London. Having not visited since college, the extreme hustle and bustle and the pace was overwhelming. She had a minor panic attack on the tube- only minor, no-one noticed- and the taxi driver who took her from the station to her hotel enquired, entirely innocently, "When's it due, love? Do you know yet?"- and explained that it wasn't because she was fat, but because she seemed rather flustered. Anyway, that day, she had rather a larger panic attack after seeing a teenager being hit by a car. Looking around in fear, she saw a hotel advertising lunch all through the summer period. She dived in and was immediately cocooned in 5-star luxury. The quiet chat of posh people. The warmth. The staff. And there, right in the middle of the lobby: Martin Ellingham. The love of her life.
"Martin!" She cried. He didn't look round. It took her only a moment to decide to go up to him. She tapped him on the shoulder. He spun round and gave her a brisk, "What?". He was wearing a blue suit and was in the middle of talking to a concierge.
His face softened when he saw her. "Hello. Hello, Louisa."
"Hi. What are you doing here?"
Instead of answering her question, he turned to the concierge and murmured, "There's been a change of plan. Lunch for two, please."
Martin pulled a chair out for her. She sat and said nothing as he took his seat and pushed the cake stand out of the way. Finally after an awkward pause, Louisa reached out. "What are you doing here?" She said.
"What are you doing here?" retorted Martin.
"A teaching convention."
"Funny. A GP's convention."
Louisa stared into his eyes. They were a beautiful shade of blue. He looked up suddenly. There was a different feel to him. He was kinder. "Louisa, I don't want to be here. I'm booked into a room upstairs. Come with me, and we can make things right."
Louisa woke up and stared for a moment at the ceiling. Then she turned over. Oh my God, she thought, as she saw who was lying next to her. He opened his eyes. "I think I sorted everything out," he whispered.
"I love you, Martin," she replied.
"I love you, too, Louisa. Once more?"
They kissed.