This story takes place after episode 2-06. Parts in italics are from Doc Martin, Series 2, Episode 6 "The Family Way" - written by Dominic Minghella and Edana Minghella. Doc Martin belongs to Buffalo Pictures.
[Special Disclaimer: I felt the whole speech by Martin's mother was not only important, but the basis of my story. I have left it in italics to give proper credit to the writers.]
Without Interruption - Part 2
Martin and his mother
The next morning, Louisa awoke and soon thought about Martin. When he walked through the Talent Night the previous evening, she could see how tense he was, not to mention uncomfortable. Timing was another of their problems, besides being interrupted. If only she could convince him to talk to her. She decided to stop by the surgery.
Meanwhile, Martin's day had started off unremarkably. He worked through some routine appointments, and one referral for a possible case of melanoma. He intermittently thought of his parents.
He figured his father was off golfing, but he had neither seen nor heard his mother. So, when he spotted her in the kitchen, perusing the newspaper, without preparing himself he approached her. He closed the door between the surgery hallway and the kitchen, and hesitated.
Although she purposely ignored him, Martin steeled himself and confronted her.
"Listen, Mum. I've just about had enough of this, uh, this silence. I want you to tell me what exactly it is you want with all of Joan's money. I know that Dad can be a bit... you know… but I'm not like him. You can talk to me."
His mother actually laughed.
"What?" he asked, a little confused.
"You're not like him - you can say that again."
"What?"
"He's reached the top of his profession. He's charming, still a handsome man, even now. We were happy before you arrived, the perfect marriage. He was always touching me under the table in a restaurant, in the car. It was like electricity. Then you came along. I knew it was all over. He could never see me as a woman again. I was a mother, a deflated balloon. So I decided I would make things just as they were before, just him and me together. Put you in boarding school, sent you to spend the summers here with Joan. Somehow, you were always there between us. Always needy, always bullied, and teased, and wetting your bed. When I couldn't get his attention, it was always his money. Then we lost everything. Did he tell you that? Lost it on some bloody, fictitious golf development in the Algarve. Well, we only have the villa because he put it in my name for tax reasons. That's when I realised that's what our marriage had become, a marriage of tax conveniences."
"Oh, Mum…"
He felt sorry for her. He was ready to be supportive of her, defend her against his careless father. Then, she shocked him.
"I've met someone there, someone who looks at me and sees a woman. He's moving in there with me. That's why your father needs somewhere to live.
"40 years. 40 years of clinging on to your father. 40 years of my life wasted."
Yet again, Martin wanted to express sympathy.
"Mum, I'm sorry," he said, softly.
"Because of you."
It was like a door had been slammed in his face. Instant pain formed behind his eyes.
"Excuse me," he said, with as much dignity as he could muster.
Martin quietly left the kitchen, and walked through the sitting room. He paused at the front door, and heard Pauline's voice, but it seemed muffled. Then, ignoring Pauline, he opened the door and stepped out of the cottage.
He felt tears threatening, and numbness, in equal amounts. He kept hearing, "...40 years of my life wasted... because of you" over and over.
And, to add embarrassment, himself saying, "Mum, I'm sorry."
End of Part 2