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I don't own any rights to "Doc Martin," and I'm not making any money off it.
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Chapter 2: The Gift
Louisa and Martin exchanged guilty looks. Martin wasn't the only one who knew about Mark's 'problem' with women. She discreetly glanced around. Surely there was someone she could rope into a night on the town with Mark. He was a nice guy, and he had such a gentle, kind demeanor, but he could be a bit gloomy and overly self-effacing.
And perhaps just a tad bit too eager.
Suddenly, she spotted Katie Bollard. The young ginger had been tragically widowed two years ago when one of the most violent gales in local memory had taken the life of her fisherman husband Tom, leaving her to raise a newborn by herself. Just the other day she was telling Louisa how she yearned for some good-hearted male companionship again. Mark would be a perfect match.
Without explaining anything to Martin, Louisa grabbed a surprised Mark and rushed over to the girl, who was fiddling with her son's shirt, trying to remove a stain.
At the sight of Louisa she rose, picking up her child and balancing him on her left shoulder.
"Hello, Louisa," she smiled warmly. "Mark." She shyly lowered her head after a glance in the policeman's direction.
There was an awkward moment of silence. Behind her Louisa could hear Martin's shoes on the wet sand. As terrible as she felt thinking it, she knew she had to act quick before he obliviously waded in and ruined the moment.
"Umm...so...Katie...M-"
"The Portwenn Players Dance is tomorrow, and I wondered if you would be my partner," Mark suddenly interrupted her in a measured, calm tone.
Katie peeked up at him. Louisa thought she could detect a small sparkle of hope in her eyes. Martin stopped in his tracks.
'Good. Maybe he gets what's going on here,' Louisa thought.
"Well, gee, I don't Mark. I mean, I gotta think of my wee one here," Katie reasoned, glancing at the toddler who was growing rather fidgety in her arms. Mark looked a bit dumbfounded.
"Well...I'm sure we could find someone in the village to look after Sean," Louisa interjected quickly.
Katie looked at Louisa with joy and admiration in her eyes. "Oh, I really couldn't do that to you, Lou. You go ahead and enjoy yourself."
Louisa eyes grew wide. Clearly Katie thought that she had volunteered to watch the child.
"No!" Louisa nearly shouted, before she'd gotten her wits about her. "I mean-" she smiled sheepishly.
"Well, if you insist!" Katie said all smiles."It's been so long since I've had a proper night out!" She looked at Mark, batting her eyelashes a little.
A small smile broke out on his face.
"No finer lady in Port Wenn to spend it with, begging your pardon Louisa," Mark said. He winked pathetically at Martin.
For the first time, Katie noticed the presence of the gloomy doctor quietly standing by, his face sullen, almost downcast.
She glanced at Louisa.
It was well known in Port Wenn that there was something going on between the unlikely pair. Word had quickly spread that the village's newest eligible bachelor had been seen several times with their beloved primary teacher*. Katie personally didn't see much in the man, except an abundance of medical skill, and she certainly wasn't alone in that stance.
But they did say that Bert Large was already talking of placing bets. And Bert rarely placed a losing bet.
"What about..." Katie attempted to nod inconspicuously in Martin's direction.
Louisa looked back towards Martin, her face expressing a sincere apology. Martin was quite moved. It was clear she thought she'd let him down.
"Umm... actually, I was going to watch...the...ummm...child...with Miss Glasson," Martin managed to spit out awkwardly. "If that's okay with you..." he added quickly. Shock replaced remorse on Louisa's face. She really owed him this time.
Katie in her joy rushed over and gave Martin a light hug-much to his discomfort-before turning to Louisa. As he recovered from the shock, Mark came up, smiling like an idiot. Before Martin had regained his wits, the policeman grabbed his hand and shook it vigorously. "You're the best, Doc," he said, practically glowing. Martin nodded stiffly.
"Glad to see we've finally knocked some community spirit into you!"
"So it would seem," Martin muttered without conviction.
Mark turned toward Katie "We'd best go buy some tickets, Kate, or it'll all be for naught."
Martin and Louisa exchanged looks.
"Actually..." Louisa said, trying to keep the disappointment from her face, "We've taken the liberty of..." she swallowed hard, trying to repress the pain she suddenly felt welling up in her throat, "...of buying you some." She handed Katie their tickets.
The girl blushed. "You sly foxes, you," she said, wagging her finger at Martin and Louisa. She exchanged a sheepish look with Mark.
Martin made a face.
Gross sentimentality.
To his relief, Sean suddenly began to wriggle and whine.
"I'd best be off," Katie said, looking again at Martin and Louisa with deep gratitude.
Mark offered her his arm. "Mrs. Bollard, how would you like a police escort?" he said. She giggled and wrapped her arm around his.
Left behind, Martin raised his eyebrows at Louisa.
"Didn't expect that," he remarked bluntly.
Louisa bit her lip. Her eyes lowered.
"I'm really, really sorry, Martin," she said quickly, sensing he would imminently visit his pent-up wrath on her. "I can still try to get you out of it...I know you probably..."
"There's really no need, Louisa," he interrupted softly.
Louisa looked at him, her eyes sparkling.
"Really?"
"It will be nice to...um...spend some time with you. Besides, they say you can tell alot about a person based on how they act when they're taking care of children."
Louisa's mouth was agape for a moment.
Martin was a bit shocked himself. Why had he said that? He and Louisa weren't really courting. Sure, there was clearly something there, but no one in Port Wenn would exactly consider them an article-yet. Besides he was actually quite worried that watching Sean would bring out the worst in him-in them. But then Martin realized something curious. Despite the fact that he avoided social encounters as often as possible, and despite the fact that he hadn't dated a woman in nearly 20 years, there was something about Louisa that made him want them to be serious, long-term, maybe even...
"Do you want kids Martin?" she suddenly blurted out.
"I mean...you know...someday."
She'd wanted to ask him since she first started having feelings about him. After all, she wanted kids, and it would break her heart to end up with a man who didn't want them.
But, now that it was out in the open, the shocked look on Martin's face worried her.
"Not that...we..."
Oh gosh. This was really falling apart. Was she trying to scare him away?
"Umm...uh...yes," he was surprised to hear himself say.
'Where did that come from?' he thought.
He'd always thought of infants-children in general, really-as stunted, selfish, germ-covered nuisances. Likely this was a view engendered by the way his own parents and teachers had always treated him as a boy, though he never actually made this connection.
But the thought of raising a child with Louisa, scandalous to his mind though it was, put things in a new light. He was certain she would make an excellent mother, far superior to his own. And the thought of cradling a miniature image of Louisa and himself, of forgetting the rotten past and creating something wonderful and new with this beautiful woman had a certain appeal to him.
A small grin appeared.
"Yes. Definitely," he said with sudden confidence. "That would be nice."
Louisa seemed to radiate.
Who would have known that the grumpy, socially-awkward bachelor-who was nearly 50-wanted kids? And maybe even wanted kids with-dare she think of it-her? It only went to show-there was more to Martin Ellingham than met the eye.
And looking up at his pleasantly round face here on the waterfront, in the warm sun, a sea breeze blowing in over the harbor, she found what met the eye wasn't half bad either.
"Miss Glasson, I thought you had my Jimmy in class at 1?" a woman's voice suddenly called.
Louisa looked down at her watch. It was 5 after.
"Right you are Mrs. Gibbons!" she said, biting her lower lip.
The woman grinned. It was hard to be cross with Miss G, as her Jimmy fondly called her. It was no secret that the Cornish Council itself had attempted to nominate her twice for Best Teacher in the UK. And to see the dear soul finally walking out with a man again, even if it was gruff, incorrigible Doc Martin, blessed her heart.
"I just hope my boy hasn't wrecked the place yet," she laughed.
Louisa glanced toward Martin.
"See ya later then?"
The doctor, momentarily besotted with her, could do nothing but nod.
Smiling broadly, Louisa gave him a quick peck on the cheek and ran off toward the school.
To be continued...
*Caroline Bosman, the primary source of this gossip, neglected to mention that many of these encounters in fact consisted of fierce bickering between the pair.
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