A Solicitor Calls

Louisa is able to hide her pregnancy with loose jumpers and full skirts through February, although she often sees teachers, particularly those with children, look knowingly at her. On the second Friday of March, she asks the staff to meet her in the cafeteria after school. Most of them likely know the purpose of the meeting, but they say nothing. Blushing and sputtering, she tells them that she is pregnant, and they actually applaud. Louisa is grateful for their response, and they assure her she will have their full support and help. She could not ask for better colleagues or friends.

On Monday morning, Louisa wishes she could tell Gordon about the Friday get together and her pregnancy. But she is so angry and sad about what occurred over the weekend that she can only write: "Brilliant weekend in Portwenn. Flowers already blooming on the sunny hills. Long walk on Sunday to relax. Louisa."

Her sadness and anger arose from a meeting she had on Saturday in Portwenn. She had phoned Martin two weeks ago with the intent of seeing him in London to tell him about the pregnancy. After a strained few minutes, Martin says he is very busy and does not have time to meet her. Plunging forward, she tells Martin that she is pregnant. Not certain if he is in shock or only thinking of how to respond, Louisa says his name twice to ensure he is still on the line. Finally, he asks if she is certain about the pregnancy as they had used condoms.

"Yes, I am sure, Martin. I don't know why the condoms failed, but they did. You fathered the baby, but I expect nothing from you. My staff has to be told, and I know word will get to you one way or the other. You should hear this from me and not from someone in Portwenn. I wanted to tell you in person but do imagine that you are busy getting settled in London and with your new job. Should I tell your Aunt Joan before she hears it from village gossips?"

Martin's only responds that he will phone his Aunt Joan, and Louisa need not do so. Trying to talk more about the pregnancy, Louisa asks if he wants details about the baby as her pregnancy progresses. Saying "that's not necessary," Louisa has the sad realization that Martin has no interest in the baby. She will, of course, let him know when the baby is born. Perhaps, he will have more interest when the child is actually a reality. She ends the conversation saying "thank you, Martin." Certainly no thanks were needed for anything Martin said, and Louisa wonders if she was thanking Martin for the baby.

A few days following her talk with Martin, Louisa receives a call at school from his solicitor, Calvin Nothquitt. He tries to be very cheery but is only terribly condescending before stating the reason for his call. His client, Dr. Martin Ellingham, contacted him about a paternity issue. Louisa assures him that while Dr. Ellingham fathered the child she is expecting, there will be no paternity claim. After talking with Dr. Ellingham, she understands his wish not to be involved in the pregnancy or with the child.

Mr. Nothquitt persists. He understands that she met a solicitor from his firm, Jack Monahan. Louisa tries to recall who that might be and can only think to ask: "Is he the one with the terrier?" That causes Mr. Nothquitt to stammer, and she overhears him ask: "Do you have a terrier?" Obviously, Jack Monahan is in the office with him, a fact that greatly annoys Louisa.

"Yes, he does have a terrier. Mr. Monahan said he met you in London last October with Dr. Ellingham. I would like to send him to Portwenn to address this matter with you."

"There really is no need for that. But thank you for your call. I've a board of governors meeting in five minutes that I do not wish to miss." Of course, this is a fiction, she just wants to use the loo. More than that, she wants to end the whole unpleasant business with Martin.

On Saturday morning, Louisa returns from the grocers to see Jack Monahan standing in front of her cottage. This time he wears not jeans and a jumper but a full London solicitor suit and is carrying a large leather case. He smiles as she approaches and Louisa asks: "Did you bring the bloody dog with you?"

"No, but I would love a cup of tea." Still the chat thinks Louisa.

He follows her into her cottage which she thankfully picked up that morning. Louisa turns on the kettle and puts away the groceries while asking Jack about the weather in London. Sitting in the armchair Martin favoured on his few visits to the cottage, he nervously fidgets with his BlackBerry while waiting for Louisa. After handing him a cup of tea, she smiles encouragingly at him to begin.

Reciting a somewhat legalistic reason for his visit, Jack refers to Martin as "the client" and to her as "Miss Glasson." Louisa suspects this is to show that "the client" has money to hire an expensive London firm, while "Miss Glasson" is a pregnant teacher at a Cornish primary school with her principal asset being the small cottage in which they are having tea.

Among other things, Jack says the client acknowledges paternity of the child and the wishes of Miss Glasson not be involved in the child's life. To this Louisa objects. She did not say the client could not be involved in the child's life, she said that he would have no responsibility for the child. If the client wishes to be involved in the child's life, she would welcome it, as she thinks it would be beneficial to both the child and the client.

Jack is busily taking notes and says there must be some misunderstanding. Could Miss Glasson please tell him her position on the matter. Louisa calmly replies that she is grateful that the client has acknowledged paternity of the child, but she does not expect him to have any financial responsibility for the child. Any relationship he wishes to have with the child would be appreciated by her and the child.

You are saying then that the client may be involved in the child's life? "Yes," she responds. Does she expect any financial help from the client? "No." Portwenn is a fairly inexpensive place to live, and her salary is more than adequate to provide for her and the child.

Does she realize how expensive it is to educate a child? "Yes." She paid for her education 15 years ago, and she has an idea of the current cost. Although she expects it will be higher when the child is ready for university. She will have nearly 20 years to save for that education and grants are available as well. More questions are asked, and Louisa responds with the facts she has gathered about supporting a child financially and emotionally. The latter is not part of the client's consideration.

Jack asks if he may step outside and phone Mr. Nothquitt. "Of course." Then Louisa suggests that if the client is not already waiting in Mr. Nothquitt's office, Jack conference him into the call.

Minutes later Jack returns and presses the speaker button on his mobile. Again, she hears the overly-solicitous voice of Calvin Nothquitt thanking her for taking the time to meet with Mr. Monahan and expressing her opinions on the matter. The client is in the office with Mr. Nothquitt, and he asks that Miss Glasson repeat her position on the paternity matter.

Louisa has been taken over the coals by bureaucrats at the education office, but none as unctuous as Calvin Nothquitt. However, she can manage him and takes a deep breath: "Good afternoon Mr. Nothquitt and Martin." Bloody hell if she is going to call him "the client" and he better not refer to her as "Miss Glasson." Martin says only "Louisa."

continued...