Chapter 10

Eleven o'clock on Sunday morning found Martin and Louisa in the tiny church. Natalie invited them the night before, during dinner, asking Louisa to please come and sit with her. "I always sit toward the back with Emily. In case she cries. She usually sleeps but occasionally she will cry and Luk says it stresses him." She had laughed. "No other baby even bothers him at all. But let Emily cry and he is worried. Little princess with Daddy wrapped round her finger."

Louisa had glanced at Martin who had shrugged. And so here they were, uncomfortable and tense, but holding hands and feeling the warmth that they had shared the night before. Luckily, both James Henry and Emily were sleeping and so they were able to pay attention to the lovely service being led by Luk. He had a gentle manner and Louisa was surprised at how full the little church was. Whenever she had been there as a child, there had never been so many villagers attending. Young ones too.

Martin noticed this as well. He even saw some of the giggling girls who often called him a tosser. Interesting, he thought. Maybe Luk would somehow convince them to stop that rude behavior. He doubted it though. But he did recognize many faces from his surgery. He sighed. It's a good job we are sitting in the rear, he thought. Otherwise I will never be able to get out of here without holding a morning of unscheduled appointments.

Louisa rose to sing the hymns, as Martin held James. She had a lovely voice and was surprised herself at her own remembering of some of the ancient words. Luk had added some new songs as well, and accompanied the choir on his guitar, not without difficulty from his wounded hand. His sermon, in his lovely Belgian accent, was surprisingly thought-provoking, Martin thought. I guess you can get a PhD in God. What was it actually? Systematic Theology. He must look that up.

As the service was ending, James Henry awoke and seemed to want Louisa. She took him and Martin took her other arm, trying to steer her toward the exit as quickly as possible. However, many of the villagers, as they were turning toward the door, saw Louisa and stopped to talk and have a peek at James Henry. Louisa frowned at his hurry but Martin continued to try to get to the exit. Then he suddenly heard his Aunt Ruth's voice beside him. "Fancy seeing you here. Am I mistaken or is Louisa wearing my mother's engagement ring again? Going to have another go are you?" she asked.

"Quiet! Martin said. Louisa and I have agreed that while we ARE going to marry, we want a small wedding this time. Just us and the baby, you and Natalie as witnesses, with Luk performing the ceremony. We do NOT want everyone in the village to show up for this!" Martin told her urgently but quietly.

Ruth raised her eyebrows. "Natalie? The new vicar's wife? And the new vicar is Luk to you, not Father Jacobs? What on earth is going on Martin?"

Just at that moment, they arrived at Luk's side. Martin cleared his throat and said, "Luk, please meet my Aunt Ruth. She is the one I was speaking to you about. Aunt Ruth, Luk wants to know if you might know of anyone in London who might want to come to Port Wenn and be the church's new organist?" he said.

Luk shook Ruth's hand. "So nice to meet you Ruth. Martin, Louisa, Natalie and I had dinner last night and he was telling us about your inheritance of the farm. I hope we can get to know you and perhaps bring our little Emily out sometime to see your sheep when she is a bit older."

Ruth's composure slipped at the news of the dinner out, but only for a moment and she replied, "Lovely to meet you Father, and I would certainly enjoy getting to know you and your lovely wife. I understand she is to be our new chemist?"

"Please, call me Luk, and yes, she is the new chemist, opeing tomorrow actually," Luk said. He continued, "So do you think that you might put me in touch with an organist?"

"Well, I will make some calls and see what I can find out. Again, it's lovely to meet you," she said as she made her way out the door. She turned to Louisa. "Protect that ring from sight if you really don't want everyone in this village showing up for your wedding," she whispered.

Louisa startled. "Um, ah, yes, I suppose you are right," she said. "Hadn't given that much thought actually."

"How on earth did you get Martin out to eat with a vicar? I am assuming it was your idea?" Ruth continued.

Louisa frowned. "Long story," she whispered, "that started when I met Natalie and then Martin stitched up Luk's hand."

"Oh, I should have known it would involve something medical. Well, I must be off. Let me know the date and I will put it on my calendar, won't you?" Ruth asked as she walked away.

"Date of what Louiser?" asked Bert, who had just walked up.

Louisa quickly turned the diamonds on the ring toward the inside of her hand. "Oh, just for a time we are getting together," she said. "How are things?" she asked quickly, wanting to change the subject as fast as possible.

After all of the chats were finished, and Martin had told about seven people to "make an appointment!" they got in the Lexus and drove home.

The following morning was busy, as usual, and Martin left a note on Morwenna's desk. He wanted to go to see if Natalie had indeed opened her doors and he knew he might be a few minutes late in returning.

Natalie had opened, and several villagers were already inside, hoping for a look round and a chat with the sweet vicar's wife. "Hello, Martin," Natalie said when he walked in the door. "How can I help you today? I imagine you are in a hurry to start surgery hours?" she asked. Then she leaned in and whispered, "I am so glad to see you. I am about to get talked to death and I really would like to actually sell something today, you know?"

Martin actually gave a small smile and said, rather loudly, "Good morning Natalie. Yes, I am in a bit of a hurry actually." He then asked her for several items that he did need at the surgery. Luckily she had most of the things on his list and made a note to order the other things later on that day. "Thanks so much, Natalie, and I hope it is a good first day of business for you," Martin said, again rather loudly, on his way out of the door. Nutters. Always wanting to chat on and on. Just because they don't have anything to do doesn't mean the rest of us don't, he thought as he made his way back up the hill.