Illustrations Challenge #8: Tenderness
In the Private Moments
There was no doubt in anyone's mind that Portwenn's GP was notoriously grumpy. His reputation for ire and rudeness had traveled far up and down the North Cornwall coast and for many miles inland, truth be told.
Louisa, however, saw things that virtually no one knew about. Or would even believe should she tell them about it.
Doc Martin a softie?
No way!
There were moments though... unexpected moments. Out of the blue, whenever they were alone, he would reach out and run the back's of his fingers softly against her cheek and she could see in his eyes the depth of his feelings towards her. At other times the simple act of taking her hand in his, one that often left her feeling weak in the knees, ran utterly counter to the starch formality that was Doctor Ellingham. Louisa was ever fascinated by how surprisingly gentle and dexterous Martin's large hands could be.
She saw it even more whenever Martin interacted with his son. She'd see him at times, gently touching the top of James' head, placing a hand on his little belly and giving him a tiny jiggle. In a cosmically comic sense she couldn't ask for a better father to change a baby's diaper, or in one instance where she found him giving their son a bath. If Martin had any say about it, James would be clean!
Louisa saw these precious moments, when Martin would rest his cheek on top of James' head while holding the baby close. Or reading those ridiculously complex medical journals in a soft voice while James wriggled and grinned before dropping off to sleep.
Sure, no one would believe it, but there really was a compassionate side to Portwenn's GP. It was reserved exclusively and privately to his wife and child.