Grateful for his wife, he glanced around the room and realized something was missing. "Where's Jjames?" he asked when she turned around.

"Oh, Emily has him. She's been wonderful, taking him whenever I needed help. It made it so much easier for me to look after you in hospital."

"Emily?"

"Yes, you remember…she and her husband are here from America. They were going to watch James while we went on her honeymoon." She was looking at him now with that expression that usually meant he'd put his foot in it.

"Oh…rright…Emily." He frowned in thought and then looked back up at her. "Iis he doing wwell with tthem?"

"What…James? He loves it there. Emily's husband, John, takes him for strolls and Emily plays games with him. She's very careful about what he eats and they …well, they just love on him."

"II'm gglad…you hhad hhelp, I mmean."

She smiled at him, her eyes soft and tender. "Yes, it was very helpful. She's offered to take him half days now that you're home. Thought it would give me a break and still give you time with James when you're feeling up to it."

Briefly Martin wondered why Louisa would need a break. Then he remembered how useless he was and at nearly a year, James could be a handful at times. "Ppperhaps that is wwise," he agreed after a moment. "I ccan't ddo much to hhelp myself, llet alone hhelp yyou with James." He felt… disheartened.

Louisa sat next to him on the couch. "But you're getting better. Your speech is a lot better already," she smiled softly. Then taking his hand, she continued. "Two days ago you couldn't have taken more than a few steps. Everyday will get better until this is a bad memory."

Looking at their interlocked hands, he grinned inwardly. "I hhope so…sson. WWe have aaa project to complete." When he looked back at her, his eyes were large and questioning, but also a little hopeful.

"Martin Ellingham, are you flirting with me?" she asked in a very pleased tone.

"Mmore than jjust flirting…I think," he replied smugly.

With her free hand, she stroked his face. "I'm looking very much forward to finishing our little project. And maybe in time, start another one?"

Looking into her shinning eyes, he let his inner satisfaction show as a smile crept over his features. "I eenjoy our pprojects…together," he said before leaning in for a kiss.

It wasn't a passionate kiss; they'd certainly shared more potent ones. But for Martin, in his condition and on that day, it was huge. For the first time, he felt he might be alright again. Louisa sensed it too and as he backed away, she smiled at him confidently.

After a few minutes, Martin felt some strength coming back. "I..I wwant to change. All yyou brought were ttrousers and this sshirt," he said as he motioned at his attire.

"It is all I brought because it is all you need, Martin. You won't be making house calls or having people in to see you, so you can be a little less formal." She was eyeing him firmly.

"Bbut…," he began to protest.

"Then go upstairs and change. But you'll have to do it on your own," she warned.

He glanced away, toward the doorway leading to the steps. Then he looked back at her. "Yyou… won't hhelp…me?"

"No. I can be just as stubborn as you Martin, just as pigheaded. You want to insist on wasting what little strength you have on getting all trussed up, then by all means…. But don't expect my help." She folded her arms over her chest for emphasis.

"Oh," he said desolately.

"Oh Martin, you don't have to wear a suit all the time, you know."

"Bbut I feel …uncomfortable."

"Besides, you look quite nice in just a shirt and slacks," she said as her eyes brushed over him. "Nice and trim and… well, … nice." She looked up at him with sparkling eyes that made him suddenly warm.

"I do?"

"Yes Martin, you do."

"No I don't," he denied bashfully.

"Oh? Are you saying you don't think I know what I'm talking about, Martin? You saying I don't know a good thing when I see it? Hmmm?"

"I…I….I'm jjust …I'm not … handsome," he sighed.

"Not in the usual sense, no. But to me… well, you're the only man who excites me."

"Ohh, now you are being rridiculous!"

"Perhaps. But it is what I feel. Are you saying you don't want me to feel that way about you?"

There was something in her expression, something Martin couldn't quite grasp. She was teasing him, of course; but there was something more. Before he could reply however, the back door opened and that Emily woman came through with James.

"Louisa…oh hello, Martin," she said cheerily. "I thought you'd be upstairs asleep. Breaking out of the hospital can be taxing."

"I…yes, hello," he said as he eyed his son in her arms. "I will rest soon."

She handed James to Louisa, who fussed over him for a moment. Emily watched, smiling and then looked at Martin. "Glad to see you're doing better, Martin. I'll get out of your way. I know you'd like a few minutes with James before naptime." She winked and then turned her attention back to Louisa. "So, I'll pick him up in the morning?"

"Actually Emily, if you wouldn't mind keeping him for the afternoon? That way we can spend some time with him in the morning…"

"Oh, okay…that'll work. I'll get him just after lunch. He can have a nap and when he wakes up we'll tucker him out so he'll sleep for you at night. Alright then…see you tomorrow," she said with a wave as she walked out the door.

Martin watched the door close behind her and looked at James. "I'd llike to hold him," he said softly.

"You sure you can handle him?" Louisa asked. James squirmed and wiggled as if to make her point.

"I'd like to try… just for a moment."

She handed James to Martin, putting the baby in his lap so that Martin could get his hands on the boy. James twisted for a moment causing Martin to wince but the baby seemed to understand and settled quietly on his father's lap. Louisa eased onto the couch next to them, smiling. "We're not going to be able to call him a baby much longer," she said wistfully.

"No."

"Especially if another one comes along…"

Martin looked up at her questioning. "You…you're not…" Part of him hoped she would say yes but part of him dreaded it.

"I don't know. It's too soon, isn't it….to know, I mean."

"Oh … right…yes, too soon to know. But if you suspect….you'll tell me?"

Louisa looked at him oddly. "You're not having second thoughts, are you?"

"What? No. I just… with me in this condition…"

"You're going to alright Martin; all your doctors said so." Martin wasn't so sure.