First I want to thank all those who have expressed their condolences over the news of my brother. I do appreciate your good wishes and support. Each day gets a little better.

To all those in the US, I wish you a Happy Thanksgiving. And to everyone else, I hope you have a wonderful weekend.

Usually it was Louisa who lingered in the bed after love making. But this afternoon, it was Martin who dozed off as the afterglow subsided. Quietly Louisa crept from the bed, dressed in the bathroom, left him a note, and left to fetch James.

He seemed happy to see her after Emily let her into the house. "Thank you Emily, for keeping him a while longer. Martin needed to see his therapist and afterwards… he needed some time to unwind."

"Unwind? Is that what folks call it now?" Emily chuckled. "I take it Martin is feeling better these days?"

"Yes, his headaches are gone and he seems to get stronger each day. He still tires easily but every day is a little better," Louisa said as she cuddled James to her.

"His therapy is working then?" Emily asked, eyeing her studiously.

"Um…yeah. It seems to be helping. But…" Louisa couldn't quite voice what was troubling her.

"But…?"

"It's just… well, Martin doesn't really trust people and I'm not sure that I've done anything to build his trust in me. And I think that's important in a relationship… isn't it?"

"It is. It is hard to love someone you can't trust. And it is hard to respect them too. Oh, one might respect out of fear but not out of love or admiration if they can't trust the other person. But why don't you think he trusts you?"

"I did try to leave you know, when things got difficult."

"Maybe it was the eye opener he needed… that you both needed?"

"Well yeah, maybe. Except that Martin's never had anyone he could count on, not really. And when we got married he must've thought he'd finally gotten that…you know? And then as soon as things got difficult, off I went."

"But you are here for him now, have been since his accident. That should mean something to him."

"I think it does," Louisa said, chewing her lower lip.

"Louisa, when you said the words, your vows… did you mean them? I mean, really mean them. Were you thinking you're in it for the long haul, knowing Martin and his… idiosyncrasies?"

"I… yeah. I thought we could make it work. He seemed… he seemed committed to making it work but then after, he started to withdraw. He had said such wonderful things to me, that he hated Portwenn but he wanted to stay because I am here, that he loved me, that he would always love me."

"And I have no doubt that he does love you, Louisa. It is written plainly on his face whenever he looks at you. But maybe he's just a little afraid too, especially since he's never had anyone he could trust. It must have been a big step for him…"

"I never thought of it quite like that. I mean, I know he's afraid sometimes and I know it was a big thing for him and he does hate it here in the village. But I never quite looked at it from his side, I don't think. I tried to understand him but usually it seems I'm more interested in making him fit in rather than letting him be Martin and me rying to fit with him."

"Well, for your marriage to work it is going to take both of you learning to fit with one another. Both of you have to do some giving and taking. He's working on his side of things with the therapy but perhaps you'd both benefit from you taking a hard look at your own motives and especially how you respond to his differences."

"Yeah, I've thought that and have been doing some of that. But I suppose it never really ends, does it?"

"No, it doesn't. Things will get better; you'll learn to read each other's signals better and with time even learn to trust the other's motives, if not their actions. But all married couples have their ups and downs Louisa and you and Martin will too. Just don't let misunderstandings turn into catastrophic events."

"Right," she replied with some confidence. "So, when he doesn't want to tell me something, like the reason for our sudden trip to Truro today, I should just trust him."

"Trust that he recognized a need for it and acted on it; that he is working to improve. Give him a little time and perhaps he will tell you on his own what it was all about. If not, ask him; but don't push him about it. Remember, when you push you're just driving him away from you when you both need him to be close."

Louisa nodded, her mind already churning over Emily's advice. "Right, give him a little space and then just ask. But then I need to be willing to accept that he might not be ready to answer just yet."

Emily smiled as Louisa turned to leave and bid her good-bye as she carried James down the walk.

Martin awoke and reached for Louisa. Startled when she wasn't there, he climbed out of bed and groggily scooted across to James' room. Still a bit foggy he headed downstairs wondering where his wife and son were. It wasn't until he was halfway down that he remembered James was still with Emily. But where was Louisa?

He trudged into the kitchen and found a paper on the table. He'd only just opened it and read the first word when Louisa and James came through the back door. Martin looked up and Louisa saw just how much like a frightened little boy he looked. "Martin?"

"I woke up and you weren't there," he mumbled. "And I just found your note. It said, 'gone."

In that moment Louisa realized how much damage she had done by running from him, attempting her trip to Spain with James. "Just to get James," she said softly. The look of relief on his face spoke volumes to her. Her absence had frightened him. "We're here now."

"Mmmmm." He dipped his head and turned away, as if looking for something. "James is alright then?"

"Yes, just fine. Had his nap and an afternoon snack," Louisa said as she put him down on the floor and he crawled away. Stepping up to her husband, she wrapped her arms around him tightly, leaving his arms free to hug her as well. Slowly they made the way around her and she felt him tug her closer as a sigh escaped him. Reaching up to kiss his cheek, she murmured, "I really enjoyed our time earlier."

"Mmmm, yes. So did I," he said in a low, emotion laden voice. His arms nudged her even tighter against him and she heard him whisper. "I love you so much…" It seemed to her that his emotions were just radiating from him, his fear, his love, and his need for her in that moment. A new resolve was born in Louisa in that moment, one that would keep her focused on building their marriage for months to come.

Martin had panicked but he didn't want Louisa to see that, see how needy he truly was, at least when it came to her. Their afternoon had indeed been pleasurable and he was finally beginning to rely on her presence. But when he picked up her note and saw the word "gone" his knees had gone weak. He wanted to cry with despair and then with joy when he saw her come through the door. He hadn't let himself depend on another person since he'd been told he couldn't return to Aunty Joan's farm as a boy. No one, it seemed, wanted him around for very long. Even Edith had fled to Canada when he'd proposed marriage. But Louisa was here, despite her attempts to separate herself from him, she came back and she was here.

When she put her arms around him he hesitated momentarily but then gave into the overwhelming need he had to feel her close to him, the need to hold her and feel her close to him. It was real; she was real and they were here together, in his kitchen.

Blinking, Martin looked around the room. His kitchen, the kitchen in the surgery, his surgery… An idea was born in him, one he hoped she would like. But he wanted to surprise her with it; although surprising Louisa wasn't always the wisest thing. Still, he would give it some thought and perhaps tomorrow he would investigate the possibilities.

Slowly they disengaged when James began to bang a toy against the wall. Louisa hurried to retrieve him before he became fussy. Martin watched her as she bent over to pick up their child, desire rising in him for the second time that day. Louisa straightened up and looked over her shoulder at him. Seeing the hungry expression in his eyes, she smiled at him and then mouthed, later.