I'm trying to close this story, but still don't know how, so please bear with me. Love the comments!
DISCLAIMER: Doc Martin characters belong to Buffalo pictures, I'm just playing with them.
Chapter 7
That night they were in bed and Martin told Louisa "I was thinking"
"Oh. About What?"
"James. Us."
"I see"
"You said that we can't get distracted with him now"
Louisa smiled "Yes. He is a cute rascal, isn't he?"
"You can't laugh every time he misbehave Louisa!"
"Oh Martin! He was just playing. He's too young to misbehave!"
"Mmmm"
Louisa had learned that "Mmm" was Martin's default response when he didn't know what to say. Surprisingly, he continued talked. "What i was saying, however, its that we need to have a time for us, as a couple."
"Oh!" Louisa exclaimed with pleasure, her cheeks grew pink. "And what were you thinking, Doctor Handsome?"
"Louisa!" Martin scolded. "This is serious!"
She keep smiling and caressing his arm, but uttered a quiet "Ok", to encourage him to keep talking.
"I was thinking that we could use half an hour every now and then not talking about James or psychology"
"Or medicine?"
Martin growled, that was a trap of his own making, but now he had to abide the idea. Louisa, nevertheless, was happily surprised by Martin's attempt to do things together. "It's a lovely idea Martin, and an interesting challenge, don't you think?"
"Yes"
"When do you think that we may have our chats? We have to put it on the rota" She said smugly, mocking his rigid ideas. Of course, he didn't got it, and say yes.
"It was a joke, Martin." You don't need to schedule every word you say, you know?" She said, frustration noticeable now in her tone. Martin looked at her with that eyes that expressed confusion and nuisance.
"Oh" He said. "I never get it, do i?"
"It's ok Martin, I love you just the same" And she kissed him deeply.
It was monday afternoon, and Louisa was at home looking nervously at her smartphone, her laptop open over her knees. There was a knock at the door at the same time that Martin appeared in the kitchen, so he went to open, it was Ruth.
"Hello Martin"
"Mmm hello. Were we expecting you?"
"Martin!" Louisa scolded him.
"What"
"It's ok, dear, i'm accustomed to my nephew lovely manners" the old lady said. "How are dear? I came expecting your news" Ruth said to Luisa, ignoring Martin in her way.
"Oh Ruth, nothing yet, i'm so nervous!"
"What news?" Martin got into the conversation.
"Louisa's grade marks comes today by email"
"What? You did not tell me!"
"I didn't want to say anything, in case i'd fail"
"So you tell my aunt?"
"She asked"
"Yes Martin, i asked. Don't you?"
"Oh Ruth, Martin is not interested."
"Of course i am!" Martin said and took a pair of rubber gloves and started to cleaning the table.
"Martin, the table is already clean" Louisa told him.
"Why are you cleaning, Martin?"
"Martin is always cleaning. I think he's a bit obsessed"
"I'm not!" Martin snapped.
"Martin, is highly known that a compulsion to clean is a sign in most OCD cases." Ruth said calmly.
"I have not OCD. Stop analyzing me!"
"Oh relax nephew, nobody's accusing you of anything" Martin growled in response.
Ruth lifted James, who was playing on a mat at the floor and start to talk to him, in a very "Ellingham" way, letting her nephew alone, when Louisa let a surprised "Ooh!"
"What is it, dear?"
"I've got an A+!*" Louisa smiled to Ruth and James.
"You seem surprised! Well done!
"Thanks Ruth, i wasn't sure if i could do it." She took James in her arms and danced with him smiling and humming, provoking the boy's laugh. "Are you proud of mummy, James?"
"Mummy, kiss!" She compelled, of course.
Martin wasn't oblivious at the happy scene, but he didn't know what to say, so he keep silent, and started to make coffee. That did not go unnoticed to Ruth, and neither Louisa, who was pissed at the lack of congratulations (or ANY response) of his husband.
Seeing her face, Ruth sighed and in a tone it was suggesting that she was trying to lead the conversation in a peaceful way, said "Martin, you must be very proud of Louisa's achievement"
"Uhm, yes" Martin said and it was patent that he wasn't but he didn't want to start a fight in front of his aunt, because he suspected that he would lose.
"Don't worry Ruth" Lousa assured. "I'm accustomed to my husband lovely manners."
Ruth smirked. "Well, i tried"
"I´ll get this young man upstairs, then we could have some tea, Ruth?"
"Go on dear" The old lady said, and when Louisa disappeared at the stairs she turned to Martin, a harsh look in her face: "Why are you being that silly? You learned nothing?"
"What?" Martin frowned deeply.
"Oh come on Martin, it's no so difficult to say something nice to your wife, it was great moment for her!"
"But why? It's not even a good university! What do I have to feel proud of?"
"Martin! Do I have to explain to you this? That not all people have the same opportunities in life? And that doesn't mean that their less intelligent or capable than others? And Louisa is making a good effort to make the right thing?"
Martin just growled. "I bet that the professor will be proud" he said in a low voice.
Ruth face transformed in a surprised and amusing grin. "Martin, i was right? Are you jealous?"
"What? no!" he responded too quickly. He remembered auntie Joan and thought how the two sisters were so different but so the same in some points, they could read him better than he knew.
"Oh, Martin!" Ruth pated his arm in pity. Louisa was coming so she had to think fast. She opted for let her nephew making it up on his own, he was a growing up after all.
Martin busied himself pouring the tea, and trying to avoid any conversation, but was attentive to the ladies. They were talking about Louisa's course: " So Louisa, what will be your next step?" Ruth asked.
"I was thinking in follow Dr. Mason investigation, about reading problems in children in year three. It's very interesting, and i have a few cases that i was concerned at the school, she told me that my field knowledge would be useful."
"Oh, that's very good dear!"
Martin paid more attention at the "she" part of the conversation.
"Indeed. And maybe i could apply for a part time lecturer post en a few terms. Dr Mason is interested in having research assistants, so that's another possibility, i need the credits, so i have a few options. But i'll think about it in the summer, i have to talk to Martin and settle James in a routine that is comfortable for everyone" She raised her voice at saying that, to be assured that Martin heard. She knew he was trying to approach them but he did not know how.
Martin was circling around the kitchen, tidying that was already tidied, assessing the conversation to make a move without raise his wife rage. "Um… so this Dr. Maden…"
"Mason" she corrected.
"Yes. He has good credentials?" Martin tried to sound dull, but failed.
"She, Doctor Dorothy Mason, is well accepted in the academic community, yes, Martin." Louisa said in a teacher tone, like if she was talking to a child.
"Mmm. Good." Martin was relieved that "Sam" seemed not to be in the horizon.
"Oh, Doctor Dorothy Mason, i know her, we meet in some conference. Yes, her investigations was well received. Not my line of work, but good." Ruth collaborated with Louisa.
"I'm in good mood" Loisa blurted out "So i think that we will have a celebration of sorts. On my account. Ruth, would you like to stay for dinner? Martin may cook us some fish. And then we could have some dessert" She smiled maliciously.
"I would love that dear!" Ruth said amused with Martin´s not very pleased frown. She understood Louisa`s game, the girl could be good when she tried.
"I've heard the baker has a new treat, a passion fruit and chocolate cheesecake"
"Sounds delicious, dear"
"Martin, would you like to taste it?" Louisa glared at him, still smiling.
"No" He said frowning even more.
"Martin, Did you think of relaxing, just a bit?" Ruth asked. "Maybe you could indulge something, once a week at first, then everyday. Relax your rules and evaluate if they are so necessary as you though. I think it would be good for you and your family"
"Good idea Ruth, Martin, you could start trying some cheesecake!" Louisa said cheerly.
Martin was astonished, he could with one, but this two sided counterattack was too much for him, he knew that he never win a battle of wills against the two most important women in his life. Still he didn't compromised. "We'll see" he said quietly, and started to cook the fish, and the vegetables. Healthy meal, hmmm.
*I searched in the internet about marking and grading in UK colleges but maybe i get it wrong, so please make Louisa's mark the best possible: 10, or 100 o A+
