Chapter Ten: Aunt Joan's Advice
A month past and Martin had not gained the courage to try and call Louisa again.
For the week after their last phone call, he hadn't managed to get hold of Louisa, even when texting her number and ringing it two or three times a day, it just went straight to voice mail. He assumed that she didn't want to ever talk to him ever again and stopped trying, leaving three weeks of emptiness for him.
His personality had resumed back to how it used to be and Chris and Sam had realised that he was never going to be a happy person again, not without Louisa. He became even more miserable each day, he was seen as an unemotional surgeon, who wasn't bothered about his patients, and above all didn't appreciate his job like he used to.
It didn't help that Chris was still not talking to him. Every time they past each other it was just a glance of recognition.
Sam was fairly torn, but Laura was there for him when he wanted to feel like he wasn't taking sides. She provided him some company that wouldn't result in another friendship argument, which he appreciated her for. Sam and Laura were proceeding in their relationship quickly and were now quite serious. However, Martin hated seeing them together as it brought back the memories of New York and how he had lost his fortune.
'Ellingham' he answered his phone, 'No your appointment is next week… next week!'
His mannerism over the phone was more like he was shouting to cold callers rather than helpless patients.
After putting down the phone rather forcefully, he opened his drawer to retrieve a pen. There were so many things that needed to be addressed for surgical reasons and replies to GP concerns across London.
Sighing – which he had been doing a lot lately – as he searched to find a decent biro, lifting the mountains of papers and files that rested in there, he noticed a scrunched up piece of paper, which was lying aimlessly to the side of the drawer.
'Oh' he gasped, as he unfolded it and straightened the creases until it was made readable. He didn't recognise it until he read the writing:
Louisa Glasson: 0785659698
'Louisa' he chocked as he stared at the hand scribed note.
He still couldn't get over her. Even in the month that they had been apart and not spoken, he did think of her, constantly. It was coming to the time where he felt as though there was no reason to look for anyone anymore and that there was no reason at all to try and be pleasant to the best of his ability. Edith had made him feel the same way, but he hadn't gained anything for not being with Louisa, he felt he lost many things instead. With Edith he had seen a new pathway of more independence and freedom, but with Louisa it was just a gloomy way ahead.
'Joan' he muttered, suddenly remembering that Louisa and his Aunt Joan lived in the same village as each other.
Also, he needed to visit Joan, since he hadn't seen her for a while now, and surely she wanted to see how he was getting on.
Picking up the phone he dialled her number and arranged to travel there the following weekend to visit her. He was quite looking forward to seeing his Aunt after a long period of time.
The week went slow, patient after patient, and only two operations to keep him busy. Each day, as he sat at the same desk, writing what seemed like essays on each patient, he looked over at the calendar that was hanging up on the wall and saw that the number of days went down as the days went by, surely, but slowly.
The hope that he still clung to that he might just get a glimpse of Louisa was enough to keep him going until Friday. His aim was to maybe pass her in the street and start a general conversation with her. However, awkward he would make the situation, just talking to her again would be a sense of achievement.
Managing to get the afternoon off, Martin got in his car and drove down to Cornwall that Friday afternoon in preparation to see Joan.
The traffic wasn't too bad as he left London. He made sure that he would arrive in the village at approximately five o'clock in the late afternoon. On the phone to Joan, she had promised that she would cook a meal for the two of them using all her own meat and vegetables.
As he drove, Martin was feeling rather glad that he was going back to see his Aunt. She was the only one who was really there for him when he was growing up. Joan was the person he'd go for on regards emotional support and advice, all of which he wouldn't have dreamt about asking his mother. At Joan's farm, he was never made to sleep under the stairs or was punished by not being allowed dinner or would get shouted at constantly for minor things that were usually not his fault.
He past the sign reading: "Welcome to Portwenn. Please drive through our village carefully". The Cornish accent was memorised as he glanced at the side, and he remembered Louisa's voice, which made him more determined to be there. Martin felt a sense of welcome as he saw the sea before him and the surrounding green fields on either side of the road. The summer had blossomed the village into a scenic little hamlet.
The sound of seagulls became more prominent as he drove down narrowing lanes approaching closer to the centre of the village. Looking at the time, he was slightly early as he drove up the drive to Joan's farm.
He pulled up next to Joan's truck and an overwhelming sense of feeling as though he was at home came over him.
The white cottage stood overlooking acres of land and miles of sea. It was just like an image on a postcard, to be honest. There was a large, squared chicken pen right at the front of the house, where the habitants were making all sorts of noises as he got out of the car. Only happy memories were brought back here and it was a pleasant thought.
As he lifted his boot to take out his small bag that he'd packed, the door to the cottage opened and a small, white haired woman appeared. Her clothes were definitely associated with a farming variety as Martin saw she still chose the same style. She wore an old chequered shirt with a pullover and a pair of old trousers with working boots.
'Marty!' Joan laughed as she ran up to him after noting it was her nephew, 'How long has it been?'
She hugged him tightly as though he was her son. Joan's face beamed with happiness and her eyes showing emotion.
'Sorry, busy at work' he replied, bluntly as he closed the boot.
'Oh yes well you're a surgeon now, I forget. It wasn't long since you were a little seven year old!' she smiled and gave him another big hug, 'Well come in and put your things in the spare room, I have cakes ready'
Martin was delighted to see Joan's reaction to his arrival as he followed her into the cottage.
Martin entered a double bedroom right at the top of the landing. He pushed open the same green painted wooden door, which he used to do when he was little and had just said goodnight to Joan and his Uncle Phil.
The bedroom was exactly the same. The same single bed and old-fashioned wooden wardrobe with the small mirror pinned onto the door. The walls plastered in stripy wallpaper with little images of horses dotted around randomly.
He walked over to the small single glazed window to see the stunning view. He noticed that everything was pretty much the same since he was last in Portwenn over a year ago.
Now being back again was the best thing that had happened in the past month.
Joan was rushing around the kitchen, taking the milk out of the fridge and quickly pouring a small amount into two small mugs. As the kettle boiled she organised some scones and rock cakes onto a plate making it look presentable. She was so excited to have her nephew there, even if it was for two nights.
The stairs creaked as Martin came down them, he entered the kitchen lowering his head as to not bang it on one of the beams.
'Sit down, sit down,' she urged him, pointing at the kitchen table.
The room was quite small and old fashioned compared to Martin's modern and open planned version. It held a large wooden table in the centre of it, and had all old cottage style cupboards on the wall and a range cooker.
Martin sat on 'his' chair, which he always liked, ever since he was young.
He watched as Joan hesitantly poured the tea and then scurried over to place the two mugs on the table, sliding one over to Martin.
'Thank you' he said and was appreciative as she made a fuss of him by bringing the plate full of homemade cakes over.
'I heard you went to New York' Joan smiled, 'Sounds good'
Joan sat down and helped herself to a scone.
'Yes it was until…' he found himself saying, but he knew that Joan would be the only one that would show her consideration for what happened.
'What?' she asked urgently worried.
'Well, I met a woman, a teacher actually,' he began, 'Her name was Louisa Glasson'
'Louisa Glasson?' Joan said, 'She's the head teacher of Portwenn primary school!'
'I know…' Martin nodded and then said, 'Head teacher?'
'Yes she got promoted over two weeks ago' Joan said with a large smile on her face.
'Oh… well, anyway, I first saw her when I accidentally bumped into her suitcase and then in the restaurant that same night she was there with other women, colleagues. Chris had a few too many and went over, so me and Sam had to go –'
"Slow down Martin' Joan told him, but listened carefully.
'Sorry' Martin said, 'Sam, you know the orthopaedic surgeon, and I went over to direct him away from the women and he started saying that I was a good surgeon etcetera'
'And…' Joan said impatiently.
'Well, later on, Louisa came over to apologise about what had happened earlier, but it was too loud so we stepped out into the lobby. We talked, making sure that she was alright. Then as I sat down she came over with a number for Sam from one of her friends and her number for me, since she thought I was actually quite a generous person, not a rude one like she thought earlier' Martin said quickly and saw Joan frown as he mentioned he wasn't a "rude person".
'Long story short please' Joan asked.
'OK, so we went out for dinner and we got on really well, but then Chris told me that she was using me after I had the date, because I couldn't find her anywhere in the hotel. It turns out she was in a meeting. We were both leaving and bumped into one another. She told me that she would ring me when she got home and then I returned home to find Edith was there'
'Edith Montgomery?' asked Joan in disgust.
'Yes, I know' Martin sighed, 'She said the same thing as Chris and called Louisa poor! Louisa rang in the morning I told her what they had said and then asked her if she was using me, so she didn't like that and we haven't spoken for a month'
Martin let out a breath as he finished and also felt a weight off his shoulders, as problem shared was a problem halved.
'Oh dear' Joan said, 'I am sorry'
'Aunt Joan, I never felt like that before' he told her emotionally, 'I mean, with Edith it was all pretend love, but Louisa it was natural'
'Oh Martin' she placed her hand on his, 'Well she is here in the village'
'I know, but I don't know what to say' Martin said, feeling bombarded with a load of choices.
Joan put her hand over her mouth to think as Martin took a sip of his tea watching her closely for her ideas.
'I'll tell you what. Why don't you go to the local pub tonight, I'll come too and I guarantee she'll be there. She often goes to socialise on Friday'
'The pub?' Martin said, cringing at the idea.
Joan rolled her eyes, 'Well do you want to see her again? It's a lovely pub, very clean and traditional'
'Will that be OK?'
'Of course, Martin don't let her get away,' Joan smiled, 'I can tell you love her'
'Love?' asked Martin.
'Yes Martin, that's what love is!' Joan laughed, 'It's the same type of thing that happened between Phil and I'
'Really?'
"Yes,' she said, knowingly, 'Now get ready, because we are leaving soon, after we have dinner, the meat is in the oven'
The Crab and Lobster was loud and overcrowded. Martin and Joan entered, squeezing past locals to get to a table. Many people were outside or on the balcony because of the heat in the small pub on a summer's day were too much. It smelt of strong beer and old musty air as the furniture needed replacing and the building dated back to the late 1800's. However, it seemed comfortable and people were just having a chat and a drink.
Joan walked over to the bar, where Martin followed.
'Joan she's not here' Martin said, in a loud whisper as he glanced around.
Joan pointed over to a small table, next to a wall on the far side of the pub.
'Save that table there Marty' she looked at him as he kept glancing at the door, 'She'll be here soon! I'll be over in a minute'
Martin sat down and began to get slightly nervous. He was wishing that it would go well.
As he was becoming more agitated, observing everyone who was in the pub, he looked over at the bar and saw Joan searching her purse for spare change to pay for the drinks. He was concerned about her finances and bills, he did not want her borrowing money off the bank and being made to pay ten times as much as the original. Immediately, he got up, not caring about reserving the table and took out his wallet as he approached the bar.
'How much is it?' he ordered to know as he looked at Joan.
'It doesn't matter, Marty' Joan said, still looking for some change.
Martin turned to the barman. He looked very put out by the fact that there was a man in a suit standing at the bar, looking very urbanised and rich.
'How much is it?' Martin asked the barman.
'Be polite!' Joan told him off, 'It was five pound fifty'
'So who's this Joan?' John asked.
Martin took out the money and handed it to the barman.
'This is my nephew' Joan said proudly.
'Good evening!' John sang, rather politely.
'Hello' Martin nodded and frowned, again looking at the door.
'Down from London' Joan told him, 'A heart surgeon'
'Really? Wow, good job' John nodded as he placed the exact money into the till.
'Thank you' Martin said taking his water and returning to their table which managed to stay empty.
'You could have been a bit more nicer!' Joan moaned as she followed Martin.
'Sorry' Martin answered like a grumpy teenager.
He sat down first and took a sip of hi water, continuing to stare at the door, jumping every time somebody walked in.
'She'll be here' Joan assured him.
Suddenly, he rose almost as fast as the speed of light, making Joan nearly choke on her lemonade.
'There she is!' Martin said, staring at Louisa as she walked over to the bar.
She came in wearing a green and white flowery dress with a cardigan to cover her shoulders, her hair was tied up and she carried a handbag on her shoulder. She was discussing what to have with a group of her friends, smiling and laughing with them as they stood at the bar.
'She's still beautiful' Martin gasped loudly, sitting back down again.
'Did you just say a nice thing?' Joan asked, confused.
'What?' Martin said, and looked at her over at his aunt with a frown.
He stood again when he saw that she was ordering her drink.
'No, sit down, wait a minute!' Joan ordered hastily, 'I'll go over to her first.'
'Fine' he sighed.
Joan barged through groups of people. There were many locals becoming tipsy as it was Friday and they were moving awkwardly around. The noise grew louder as she reached the bar where Louisa stood, debating on where to sit with her friends.
'Louisa!' Joan greeted as Louisa picked up her glass of wine, ready to occupy a table.
'Oh hello Joan' Louisa smiled, 'Are you OK?'
'Yes, I'm just here with my… erm friend' she smiled, nodding.
'Oh right' Louisa said, 'So am I'
'How have you been I haven't seen you in a while?' Joan said politely.
'Oh fine actually' she nodded.
'I heard you went to New York'
'Yes' Louisa said, her face dropping making her then change the subject, 'How is the farm?'
'OK' said Joan and then smiled, 'Actually, my friend is a tutor, would you mind answering a question about teaching for him, it won't take a minute, he seems very interested in your job'
'Yes of course!' she nodded, 'I'll be over in a minute'
Her friends were eagerly waiting for her to finish the conversation as the table was soon going to be filled with a group of fishermen who had entered. Also Louisa felt like settling in the pub first before wandering off.
'Oh no, he has to go soon, now would be better'
'Oh alright then' Louisa looked over at her friends and held up her index finger to represent she'll only be one minute.
She followed Joan intently as many more people lingered around and she didn't want to lose her way.
Martin saw them approaching and stood up. He straightened up his tie and braced himself for the conversation.
'Just here' Joan said to Louisa.
Louisa lifted her head and stopped, she saw that this tutor person was somebody she knew. The feeling of the heartache she had endured over the past month had all washed over her again. Her face went to a straight expression and her mouth slightly parted as her eyes showed that she was upset.
'Martin' she gasped as she looked deeply at his now softened face.
'Louisa, please let me talk to you' Martin pleaded, staying next to his seat, nervously.
'Right I'll be over here' Joan said, as she picked up her drink and walked over to Mrs Pratt and her husband.
'What are you doing here?' Louisa asked, frowning slightly.
'To see you' Martin said, 'Louisa I cannot go another day with feeling the guilt and loneliness that I feel now when I'm not with you. I'm so stupid knowing that what I was lead to believe has caused me to be parted from you, please Louisa'
"Martin I don't know, you thought…' Louisa stuttered as her eyes filled with tears.
'No I didn't.' he looked at her, 'You know how easily Edith can… you don't, but she hasn't got any friends and that is why she said that. She was jealous, because she heard your message'
'What do you mean?'
Martin offered her to sit down, which she took gratefully wanting to listen to him.
'She is a horrible person and she thinks she owns everybody, but it was all jealousy since she saw I was insane about you. I was about to ring because I couldn't wait until the morning, but you rang first'
'Martin" Louisa said wiping her eyes, 'I don't understand, you knew that I would never use you'
'Of course and I stood up for you to both of them' he said, 'I didn't actually believe that you would do that, it was just a brief moment of question'
'Are you being honest?' Louisa asked, 'Did you… get back with Edith?'
'God no!' he said instantly, and took her hand across the rounded table, 'I am being honest. I was lonely and turned into a miserable complete imbecile who argued with his best friend over stupid things, because I didn't have you there anymore. We haven't spoken since the day when you and I last spoke. Louisa please forgive me.'
'I do' Louisa quietly said.
'You do?' Martin said happily, 'You forgive me?'
'Yes' she nodded, smiling and looked at him.
'Thank you' he said in relief, 'It's funny how much this upset us both, since we only really knew each other for a weekend'
'I know' Louisa shrugged.
'I'm mad about you, Louisa' he declared, openly.
Martin got up, took her by the hand, which made her stand too. Martin placed his hand on her cheek and leant forward. They kissed passionately as all the last four weeks were wrapped in these few seconds.
The people cheered in the pub and applaud as they did so. Joan wondered what the noise was and then looked over to see her nephew kissing a woman in public. She was amused by the idea that this was actually happening.
They came apart, slightly embarrassed, but so engrossed in seeing each other that they didn't say anything to their audience.
'Louisa, I missed you' Martin whispered.
'Really?' Louisa smiled as she gazed into the same eyes.
'Of course I did!' Martin said defensively.
The pub resumed back to gossiping again, mainly talking about the scene that had just unfolded.
Louisa giggled, 'Aw! Well I missed you too'
'Don't ever hang up on me again' Martin told her.
'I beg your pardon, Doctor Ellingham' she smiled, 'I thought that it was up to me who decided who I spoke to!'
Martin looked at her smile and saw that he had her back.
'I suppose'
He took her by the hand and led her out of the crowded pub.
'Let's go for a walk' Martin suggested as they went through the door.
Louisa placed her hand in his as they strolled in the sunset through the deserted lanes of Portwenn.
'So, Sam and Laura are getting close' said Louisa, as she looked over at Martin.
'I know, we've got some catching up to do'
Louisa giggled, 'Oh I've missed you so much. I think I cried for about two weeks'
'I cant express how deeply sorry I am' Martin told her.
'I know you are' she replied, 'I can tell'
'Thank you'
'So, have you spoken to Chris yet?' asked Louisa.
'No' sighed Martin, 'I feel guilty for putting Sam in the middle of it. He's not really talking to either of us'
'Oh dear' Louisa gasped, 'This isn't because of me is it?'
'No!' Martin shook his head, 'No, it was my fault, I shouldn't have taken my outrage from Edith out on them two'
'Let's not talk about her'
Louisa looked at Martin. She really didn't like this Edith woman and certainly didn't want to get Martin wound up by making her the topic.
'I agree'
'Good'
'So, headteacher' Martin said, as they proceeded hand in hand up the hill, past Portwenn's chemist, which was closed.
'Yes' Louisa smiled, 'I desperately wanted to tell you that, but I thought it wasn't good idea'
'Congratulations' Martin said.
'Thank you'
'You're welcome' Louisa replied and leant up to kiss him on the cheek.
They walked for a couple of hours around the quite village, where they sat at the top of a hill, watching the stars appear and the waves splashing.
'This is lovely' Louisa commented.
Martin looked over at her, the moonlight shining on where they were sitting. She looked very elegant as she turned to face him.
Again, they came together with a romantic kiss.
'How long are you staying for?'
'Until Sunday'
'Oh, so only another weekend' Louisa said, sadly.
'I know, it looks like our relationship will only workout on weekends' Martin said.
Louisa laughed, 'Hopefully not!'
They chatted together for ages, catching up on what they'd missed.
It was perfect. Being together again was the best thing that had ever happened.
To Be Continued…