Chapter 4

I patted Martin's hand. "Just a bit longer." He was so antsy if he was a teenager I'd think he couldn't wait to get his bride somewhere private so he could undress her. But no, Martin was being Martin. I knew it was his way of dealing with too many people, standing too close, especially ones who irritated him. He'd just turn his back and walk away when that happened. Maybe part of the undressing urge was in him for I certainly hoped so.

I had asked Ruth, ""Do I look married?"

Ruth gave me one of her 'no really' expressions as she glanced around at the pink and white balloons, people eating and drinking, music played by a DJ, in the largest nearby hotel. She nodded. "Now you do."

Married - Lord that seemed like such a heavy word.

Morwenna must be tipsy for she was acting loopy and she had drunk most of the wine the night before. I liked Morwenna; she was a good egg about all this wedding kerfuffle. I'd not really thought a girl's night out but she gave me one anyway. Lately she'd seemed more like a younger sister to me than Martin's employee.

I heard a spoon banging on a glass and turned as I heard Penhale holding forth.

"Hello!" he shouted and with a mighty whack swung at the glass once more and of course it shattered. Undaunted he scraped the broken bits off to the side with his shoe and started to speak. "Today a great man, a great physician, and the greatest thing to happen to Portwenn since the new parking area at the beach…"

Everyone in the room laughed.

"Married," Joe added.

Bert cat-called, "Yer a tosser get off!"

Joe ignored Bert's comment. "Married to one of our natural treasures, Louisa Glasson."

Treasures? I looked around the room and everyone was smiling. I guess I would agree.

Joe laughed, "There were a few roadblocks…"

That was saying something. When Joe started to make his speech I feared what he might say that would embarrass me or Martin, or worse send Martin into a huff, but what he said so far was very sweet.

"And diversions on route… and a quick stopover at the maternity ward," Joe look at me almost apologetically and mimicked a big belly, "the baby… but happily they have arrived at their destination."

"Oh please sit down," Bert called, which seemed quite rude, but he was teasing Penhale.

"Back in 1984, Tina Turner asked the question what's love got to do - got to do with it?" Joe smiled. "And the answer is…"

Music started to play too early, the music I'd picked for us to dance to.

"Bert! I haven't finished my speech," Joe said testily.

"Go on Doc! Dance!" a lot of people called out.

"I got some good jokes," Joe protested as more voices demanded we dance. "Not done yet!"

Martin looked at me quizzically. "I think this is meant for us," I told him.

"Is it mandatory?" Martin asked softly.

I gave him an out. "You don't have to if you don't want to."

But he took my hand and led me to the dance floor.

"I might be a touch… rusty," I told him. To my amazement, Martin elegantly slipped his right hand around my waist and firmly holding my left hand swept me into a smooth dance step.

Amazed? More like astonished! Martin could dance? I had no idea.

"I learned at school," he whispered. "It was compulsory," he explained.

Compulsory or not I felt like I was floating; floating smoothly along with the man I'd dreamed about (and cursed at times) far too long. He gave me an odd little smile, odd for him that is, but a smile all the same. It was… quite nice - no more than nice - wonderful and that feeling lasted until I crushed his right foot with my heel.

"That was your foot! Sorry." God! Smooth move Louisa!

He choked back obvious pain but kept dancing, spinning me smoothly around.

With all the guests - invited and otherwise watching - we kept dancing under the disco ball lights. A fairytale moment? Yes… yes it was.

"Did you have dance lessons as a child?" Martin said into my ear.

We barely had a roof over our heads. "No."

"Uh, I thought not," Martin replied. Another woman might have thought that was a rebuke but it wasn't; just Martin being factual.

It was okay - no good - for we were finally married for better or for worse and I didn't want to be anywhere else but with my husband dancing in the middle of the hotel ballroom in the midst of our friends.

"They're plotting something," Martin said glaring at Bert, Al, and Joe who were whispering amongst themselves by the DJ.

"Oh God," I moaned, "I hope it's not something too embarrassing."

Martin's voice dropped lower. "Why don't we leave while we still can?"

"Yes! Good," I told him so we left the dance floor and collected James and his things from the girls who were minding him.

I propped the baby on my hip. "Hello James!" He hugged me and pressed his hands against my face while I wrapped him in a soft blanket for it was still cool outside.

"But…" I looked at Martin. "How are we leaving?"

He fished a car key fob from his pocket. "I still have my aunt's keys."

"Oh, right." I smiled at him. Trust him to be prepared.

"I drove us here from the church Louisa and this is her spare set."

I ducked my head. "They'll be disappointed - us leaving."

Martin glanced into the big room where they were all dancing and drinking. "I doubt they'll care, as long as the cider holds out."

I gave James to Martin. "I'd better make a trip to the ladies before we go."

Martin sighed but took James as he glanced at his watch.

I spent just a couple minutes in the ladies, most of which was digging through the dress to do the necessary things. Then I washed my hands while I took a look at the woman in white we looked back from the mirror. "Well, Louisa, you are married. No going back now." But I squared my shoulders, touched up my lipstick and did smile at my reflection. "Right then."

Martin handed me James when I came out and we snuck out the side door of the hotel.

I saw Ruth, Morwenna, Al and Bert, plus Penhale and a few others gathered around a fancy car.

"Ah-ha! You are not gonna get off that easy my lovers," Bert complained where he had been supervising Al shining a red and silver car. "We have a surprise for! Can't have a wedding without a honeymoon." Bert had one of those chauffeur's caps on his head.

"Martin! Was this your idea?" What a surprise!

"Absolutely not," he told me and his response was just as much not a surprise.

Bert rushed on. "So, we've all chipped in and you will be whisked away in the fabulous vehicle to a luxury vacation with all the trimmings."

Aunt Ruth added, "And I'm perfectly capable of taking care of him." She clearly meant James. "It's only for one night."

I bit my lip. "I don't know Ruth."

"He won't feel you've abandoned him, and even if he does, he's far too young to remember any of it," she responded.

"Ohhh," I looked pleadingly at Martin. "Just one night?"

Morwenna laughed gesturing with a glass of cider. "Bags all packed and ready to go."

"In the boot," Bert told us.

Martin harrumphed. "You mean you've been in our bedroom?"

"Riffling through your ironed boxer shorts," Morwenna teased.

I just hoped that Morwenna had used some sense when they packed for us. I was wishing that she had packed the special nightgown I bought. I'd described it to her last night so fingers crossed it had made its way into an overnight bag.

Then Al said, "Oh yes and the Large Restaurant has donated a fully stocked hamper to get your wedding night off with a bang, Doc!"

Martin had that look of an obstructionist, so I asked him, "Martin can we?"

We'd talked about going away for a weekend, but what with his reticence and the need to care for James that had died aborning. When we mutually agreed it was not a good idea I binned the pages of island bookings I'd been looking at on the sly. The Canary Islands looked good though and Barcelona as well. Well, I thought, maybe we can honeymoon next lifetime.

We didn't need a honeymoon, not really, but still it was attractive. Given we had had a baby well before our marriage it did seem silly but the idea of getting away just the two of us did sound nice. "Can we?" I repeated. Please say yes, I was thinking. Please?

Martin gave me an unsure look. "Uhm, eh, well… if you really want to…" Martin muttered.

"Quick! Before he changes his mind," Bert laughed and just like that Ruth took James and we were plopped down into the limousine while I spewed out advice about baby food and James latest sleeping difficulties, aided by Martin's comments, which probably weren't helpful.

As we settled into the back seat I took Martin's hand and squeezed his fingers. We were married now and yes love has everything to do with it... Tina Turner was right in so many ways.