Title: Glasson Glimpses (Series 2)
Author: DianeB
Rating: PG-13

See Chapter 1 for Summary, Author's Note, and Disclaimer


"Old Dogs"

Being with Danny Steel sparked a host of memories Louisa thought she had forgotten. Funny thing, memories, because her memories of Danny were in sharp contrast to the man now sitting across the table from her. For one thing, he still called her "Lou," which she'd never liked, but lacked the courage even now to ask him to stop. For another, his constant "praise the Lords" and insistence on grace before meals were starting to grate on her nerves. For another, he'd yet to take even a taste of the expensive wine she'd bought.

And finally, he wasn't Martin Ellingham.

"In Loco"

Though often wanting to throttle Peter Cronk, Louisa couldn't help but be impressed with his cleverness. Talking to Peter sometimes felt like talking to an adult, and she wondered how he'd be as an adult, when his body finally caught up.

When Martin dumped Peter on her doorstep, it couldn't have been at a worse time, so she was relieved when Peter said he was "going," which she misinterpreted as "going to bed." She felt very mum-like in reminding him to brush his teeth, and then promptly forgot about him.

The ringing phone brought her out of her studying reverie.

"Blood is Thicker"

It was almost laughable how obsessed Louisa had become with her breath. She'd tried mints and gum, then vigorous flossing, and even that ridiculous citrus mouthwash, but nothing seemed to reassure her that she wasn't offending people at every step. It was irrational. It was embarrassing. It was stupid.

It was also handy that Mark Mylow's sister was a herbalist and currently setting up shop above the police station. Louisa entered the station in a hopeful frame of mind, certain that Sandra would be able to help her. The only thing she didn't want was to be caught by Martin.

"Aromatherapy"

Martin saw right through her attempts to get advice about how to deal with her "friend," and deep down she knew he would. Living in Portwenn was like living in a fish bowl: everyone saw everything, good and bad. The only difference with Martin was that if the "bad" had anything to do with a person's health, he didn't waste time or suffer fools to ensure that person got the treatment they needed.

In Caroline Bosman's case, it was only Martin's efforts that clued them her troubles were not alcoholic but ketonic.

Danny had only suggested they check the pub.

"Always on My Mind"

Louisa couldn't believe how excited she was about her meeting (she hesitated to call it a "date") with Martin. He'd been unexpectedly forthright that afternoon when she'd confronted him about his rotten bedside manner, shifting the focus to his inability to communicate with her, not the village as a whole.

Therefore, she was genuinely hurt when eight o'clock came and went without a sign of Martin. It occurred to her that he might've had a medical emergency, because he often did, but that didn't keep at bay the feeling that she'd been forgotten.

For once, Danny's appearance brightened her mood.

"The Family Way"

It was hard for Louisa not to be upset over the fact that Martin hadn't introduced her to his parents. Upon deeper reflection, she knew his relationship with them was strained at best, so perhaps he was just trying to keep her out of the muck. It didn't necessarily make her feel better, but at least it was a reason.

In hospital with Danny, she chanced to meet Roger Fenn, who was dancing with joy over the ultrasound picture of not one, but two babies, his babies. She thought of her own father, and wondered about the nature of family.

"Out of the Woods"

Louisa fumed all day about how Martin had hurt Mark by refusing to be his best man. In fact, it had got her thinking so much about Martin's past transgressions that for a while there, she forgot why she was currently angry at him. But by day's end, she was climbing Roscarrock Hill to give him a piece of her mind about it.

The scare in the woods left her without a single cross thought, thankful only that Martin had found Mark and saved his life, and thankful also that Martin had not lost his own life in the process.

"Erotomania"

Getting Martin drunk hadn't been her plan. Not really. Besides, he said he didn't drink, so it surprised her right off that he'd accepted even a glass of wine, let alone three bottles. She was vaguely disappointed by the fact that it took him that much "liquid courage" to admit he loved her, but when he finally did, she couldn't get around the table fast enough.

Unfortunately, it wasn't fast enough.

Tucking a blanket around Martin's unconscious form, she kissed him chastely, staggered out of the surgery, and managed to get back to her cottage without the whole village seeing.

"On the Edge"

Her father was a thief and a liar, and he cavorted with madmen. This last stood before them waving a rifle, making wild demands, as if he hadn't strapped them all tightly to chairs!

Yet…her dad had left this Bodmin bloke and the "job," and the only mistake he'd made was in leaving the nutter behind.

In the end, it was sorted by Martin, out on the cliff. He hauled Ted from the edge of death, disarmed Johnathan, and narrowly missed blowing them all (except the choughs) to bits, in what was getting to be just another day in Portwenn.