Chapter 11

Martin and Louisa had been spending just about every night together. If he was on call, they stayed at the surgery. If not, at her house. The villagers didn't particularly care if he was on call or not if one of them needed him and knocked on the surgery door at all hours of the night. But if he stayed at Louisa's and turned his phone off, they could spend their time together uninterrupted.

She loved Martin with her whole heart and soul but, since she was a very social person, she began to miss going out and seeing her friends. So she told him that friends of hers had invited them out for an evening in Truro. "I went to university with both of them and we've remained close friends ever since. He's a head teacher like me except at a much bigger school and she's a physical therapist. Very nice people, intelligent and easy to be around. I think you would enjoy meeting them. Since you're not on call, how about for dinner this week-end and then attend the concert in the park? The weather forecast looks good." She waited expectantly for his answer. This was an important test in their relationship. Would he make any effort to be more congenial and meet her friends or was what they had enough for him? For her it wasn't.

He continued flipping pages in a journal he was reading, frowned a little and said "I thought we were just having dinner and a quiet week-end together as usual. What's wrong with that?"

"Martin." She waited for him to look at her and continued "I would like for you to meet some of my friends. They know about us and are eager to meet you. I don't expect us to go out every weekend but sometimes it would be nice. So, yes or no? Oh, and one stipulation, don't say yes if you feel certain that you won't enjoy it and will stand around in a grump all evening."

He studied her expectant face and replied "Yes, we can do that. I can't promise to carry on endless conversations, especially if I have nothing to say, but I'm willing to try it."

"Thank you. I appreciate your trying. I'll call them and confirm the plans." Then, while being careful to not imply gratitude or giving an award for his cooperation, she was very loving and adventurous that night. He was exhausted but satisfied the next morning.

She looked forward to their date and he worried about it. He felt he was so inept and uncomfortable in social situations that it just couldn't go well. She had faith in her friends' intelligence and knowledge of a variety of subjects that there had to be things that all of them could talk about.

Louisa planned her outfit carefully. He had told her that he thought the dress she wore to the restaurant after their first night together was her most flattering so she wore it but with heels this time. She took unusual care with her makeup and fixed her hair in a clever twist that rested on the nape of her neck and thought she looked very well. Martin picked her up Saturday afternoon and when she opened the door, he gulped, looked her up and down and cleared his throat loudly "You look…satisfactory. Won't you require a cardigan or light jacket? It might be too cool tonight for just that dress."

"I have one right here. And may I say that you look especially smart tonight. That's my favorite tie." Smiling happily, she walked to the car and slid in the seat after he opened the door for her. He had just the best manners!

When they were safely on their way and out of view of the village, she leaned over and kissed his cheek. Her friends had chosen a Greek restaurant that supposedly served authentic dishes. "I want to try Moussaka and a soup called Kotosuppa. I've read about so many dishes but haven't had the opportunity to try them. Do you care for Greek food?"

"Yes, I do. There is a particularly good restaurant in London run by a Greek family that I frequented quite often. My choice of soup was usually Hortasoupa. It's a vegetable soup with a rich flavor. I usually got a dish made with eggplant for the main course. Usually Moussaka. I can highly recommend it."

"I've heard of a dish called Kleftiko made with lamb." Giggling a little "How bad do you think I'm butchering the pronunciation of these words! Oh well, if they offer it, that's what I'll have. Or not. Silly to choose something before you've even seen a menu."

"I agree but it's pleasant to think about it." and gave her a rare smile, reached for her hand and, raising it to his lips, kissed it lightly. "And by the way, you are butchering the words." His reward for that honest statement was to see her stick out her tongue and cross her eyes at him.

Almost laughing at her ridiculous behavior, he tried to look serious as he asked her about the concert. She told him what she knew. "I don't think we'll have to sit on the ground because, if I remember correctly, there are benches available. The music will be a mixture of some classical, light jazz and pop music." With a sly smile, "And I promise to not drag you into the bushes for a kiss tonight because I might get excited and smell funny again."

He knew he was being had so instead of apologizing again for when he said she smelled like urine, he replied with a sly smile of his own "How about if I drag you into the bushes? What do you think I will smell like?"

Laughing because she was just so happy, "Heaven maybe? You always smell so good, especially when we're 'in congress'."

He blushed and his ears were fiery red. Poor man, he just couldn't take a compliment. She stroked the ear she could reach, then kissed her finger and slid it around the ear. "Silly man. Get used to compliments because you are the most wonderful person I've ever met in spite of your 'little' ways and I love you so much."

Driving through a charming countryside on a beautiful day with the woman he loved was the most wonderful time he could ever remember having.