Chapter 10 - Walking and talking

Much to Louisa's surprise, Martin came down the stairs about twenty minutes later, casually dressed in only trousers and a shirt, without tie and coat. She looked over her shoulder, while continuing stirring in the pan, and then smiled at him.

'Dinner is ready'.

'It smells good', Martin answered. He came towards her, looking inthe pots and giving her a kiss on her cheek. He then picked up James and installed him in his high chair. James started making smacking noises. 'He seems to share my opinion' Martin added.

They ate their meal in a peaceful silence, the way Martin liked it the most. Even James seemed to understand that he shouldn't be too fuzzy. Usually he liked to grab the spoon, but today he quietly ate his food.

'Martin', Louisa began, 'a bit of fresh air would do us all good, I think. Shall we all go for a walk after dinner? There's enough daylight left..?

'Ok, but not towards the village center, I've seen enough of them today...' He then stood up and wiped James' face and hands. 'I'll take him upstairs and put him already in his pyjama's'. I bet he'll fall asleep in his buggy and then we can settle him right away afterwards, he suggested.

'Good idea, Martin, very practical', I'll clean up the kitchen in the mean time'

Martin went upstairs. A couple of minutes later she heared water running. Only ten minutes later, Martin returned downstairs with a clean, fresh boy on his arm.

'That was quick, Martin, how did you manage that?'

'Well, I put him in the bathtub and then gave him a shower with the hand shower. He liked it! Even pulled himself up in the tub. Of course I had to stabilize him, but he made it easier for me to wash him. Good boy you are James!'

'Wow, what a wonderful idea!

They all put a coat on, walked out the door and climbed up the hill to the cliffpath. Martin deeply inhaled the fresh salty air. Louisa was right, it felt really good to be outside accompanied by his beautiful wife and lovely son.

'I made the subsription to the congres, including the hotel booking. I added two more nights to stay in Amsterdam together. After that, we will see where we will go, right?', Martin started.

'Yes, that's Ok, I've seen that there is plenty to visit. Maybe we could plan to make a sort of a tour around the country? Nothing is far away there and I'd love to see the water management in the country, the mills, dikes and so on. I also want to go to the Kröller Müller museum. It appears to be a place full of beautiful paintings, located in the middle of the woods and heather fields.'

'I am not surprised that my beautiful and bright wife comes up with that suggestion. It really is a beautiful place!', Martin replied.

'You've been there then, Martin?'

'Umm, yes, during my studies. In the summer break I used to go on cultural trips all over Europe, Paris, Rome, Florence, Berlin, Copenhagen, Oslo...and Amsterdam. It'll surprise you, but in the Netherlands, I made a tour of one week by bike. Unlike others, I stayed in hotels - You know I hate camping... So I did the Hoge Veluwe, as it is called, by bike...you'll love it. It is strange, this country has the most habitants per square mile and still you can find places where you hardly meet anybody...'

Quite a speech for Martin, Louisa thought.

'Maybe a stupid question, but.. Did you go there all by yourself?'

'Mmm, yes. It relaxed me more than being with babbling 'friends', he said, making qoute signs with his fingers when he pronounced the word friend..

'But this time you will even take two babbling persons there, Martin...'

'Nonsense, you're my wife and my son, I love to take you there and share these beautiful things with you!' He nearly shouted and James, who was dozing away, started to whimper.

'I am so sorry James'. He crouched near the buggy, and stroke his son gently on his blond hair, to calm him down. He took James' favourite green frog out of his pocket and gave it to him. James gladly took it from him and smiled again.

'Martin? When you want me near you on the day they treat the blood phobia, who will take care of James? Does the hotel have babysitters?'

'Glad you ask it, that's one of the questions that's still open... They mostly have such a service, but to be honest, I am not very keen on having James looked after by some complete stranger...'

Louisa didn't want to spoil the moment, so she didn't evoke the days that Martin trusted their son to an unresponsible teenager and to Mrs Tishel...

'I agree with that', she said instead, 'Me too I'd prefer to have him looked after by someone he know and loves. The question bothered me all day.'

...

'Morwenna!?', they both said at the same time. They looked at each other quizzically, then Martin concluded:

'So we agree on the person, good, that's settled.'

For him the solution to the problem was found, the practical organization was simple.

Louisa on the other hand saw, as a matter of speaking, more obstacles on the road.

'But we don't even know if she'll want to do it! And how will she travel? How will we all travel?'

Then Martin stood still on the middle of the path. In the twilight, nobody can see us, he thought and after haveing secured the buggy, he took Louisa in his arms and kissed her firmly on her mouth, making it impossible for her to speak.

Once they broke apart to breathe, Martin said to a flabbergastered Louisa, 'Stop worrying my lovely Louisa, I am sure I will be able to convince her. It will be a fully paid holiday for her, she adores James and she wouldn't in years have another opportunity to go abroad - that's what she told me this morning! And we will buy her a ticket for a flight from Exeter to Schiphol. And another to go back home after the congres. Let's go home, I wish to call the hotel and book another room for her.'

Then he added, to answer her last question, 'We will go by car. It makes us more flexible and we can take all the things we'll need for James. And for ourselves', he finished, thinking of the suits he would need for the congres and further cloths for the holiday.

Hesitantly, Louisa asked, 'If she agrees to come to the Netherlands, would you mind to ask her if she 'd like to come over for the two first days as well, Martin?

'Yes, of course, is there any particular reason why?

Matin guessed that Louisa blushed a bit, although he could hardly see it in the dim light.

'It is the very first time I will be in a foreign coumtry on my own when you'll participate at the congres. I don't speak the language.. It frightens me a bit, actually and I don't like the idea of being all alone with James in such a big city'.

'Holidays are meant to be fun for vereyone, so if you'd feel better to spend those two days with someone you know and like, be my guest.'

He then freed the brake of the buggy, put his other arm around Louisa's waist and headed back to the surgery..

'Martin!' Louisa took him by his arm to stop him

'What?'

'Thank you', Louisa said. She embraced him and soundly kissed him. He couldn't resist at that and kissed her back.

Martin looked at Louisa's beautiful face and here thankful eyes.

'Let's go now', he said with a husky voice...

To be continued. It's time for them to cross the Channel!