CHAPTER TWENTY NINE REMEMBRANCE
The Characters, places and situations of Doc Martin are owned by Buffalo Pictures. This story makes no claim of remuneration or ownership, nor do I make any attempt to infringe upon any rights of the owners or producers.
Thank you for reading. Your reviews and comments are most appreciated.
CHAPTER TWENTY NINE
"I thought they spoke English in Scotland. Obviously I was mistaken. I wonder if the Queen brings a translator when she travels to Balmoral."
This was not my first visit to Aberdeen. Hamish and I decided we would visit each other as much as possible. Sometimes there was a month or two between our times together, but we worked to make it frequent. We even managed to move between Portwenn and Aberdeen in the winter. There were flights between Newquay and Aberdeen, not direct, but they were manageable. Manageable meaning "Where there is a will, there is a way." At times it meant an overnight in Birmingham or Manchester. Our families were quite patient with us, I have to say.
This was a miserable rainy January night with many like it preceding and more yet to come, I imagine. We hadn't done our evening walk in several days. The common room with its fireplace was welcoming but most folk go to their flats early and so it was just Hamish and me and three others, who were having some sherry with us.
It was Alice Teeter who broke the silence. "The song should not be Land of the blooming heather. It should be Land of the lousy weather. Why do they call this Seaview? I haven't seen the sea in three days. Ruth, don't you wish you were back home away from this?"
"You're kidding, right," I replied. "Cornwall can run you a close race on the weather front. No, Alice, I'm fine being here tonight," and my eyes went furtively to Hamish.
"Ruth, I know I am too outspoken but I can't figure why you don't just save the airfare and trouble and move up here with us Scots. We will forever hate Prince William for what he did at Culloden but we are a welcoming lot. I'd love to see you at afternoon tea every day. I'd best shut up and get to my flat. Cherio. See you at breakfast."
We were alone in the large timber-framed room sitting close to the fire. The dark wood and leather furniture added to the warmth and comfort. I made my light-hearted comment about the Scottish brogue and it triggered an unexpected response from Hamish.
"Oh Ruth, I wish you were here every day of the year listening to this blather. Could we do what we might have done so long ago? Marry me Ruth. If I only had one day left on this planet, I would want it to be with you. Surely you have thought on this."
"Of course I have thought on it, but tonight it does come as a bit of a surprise. And in many ways I want to just say yes, Hamish, but it is fraught with difficulty. And you know what that is."
"Of course I do. You've grown close to your family in Portwenn and are hesitant to leave. Am I right?"
"Yes, that's the crux of the matter. And it's not just Martin and Louisa and the children. You know how much Al and his family mean to me. His children have always called me Granny. Leaving them would be very hard. Yet I know with your children and grandchildren so close here, I couldn't possibly ask you to move to Portwenn. Besides you have your art and your students."
"So, is that no? Is that saying it's not possible?"
He may not have intended it, but there was pleading in his voice. This was no spur of the moment thought. Knowing how this had grown in his mind I did not want to crush his hopes.
I took his hand in both of mine and looked into his eyes. "Hamish, please give me some time. I know we may not have a great deal of that commodity, but I have to think a bit. You know nothing would make me happier than being with you and being your wife. Of course I don't know why we have to go through the wedding bit, do you? If we decided on it perhaps one of these times I could just buy a one way ticket and that would be it."
"Thank you Ruth. I will say that doing it right is somewhat important to me. I would like you to be my bride. Too, there'd be peace in the family as I know my daughters would want a proper wedding."
"Well, if this bloody weather lets up I'm to return to Portwenn next week.
It's important that I talk with Al. You may not understand, but it is vital. We'll continue talking about this because I do think it's something we both want. So you may take that as a qualified yes, my dear. You may have a yes from my heart and a maybe from my head."
I moved and kissed him in a way that he would know my depth of feeling.
His proposal was special after all, and I wanted him to know it.
"Well Ruth, ever the hopeful one, I think I shall listen to your heart."
"And Hamish there's one more thing. If we manage this, I wouldn't think of intruding on the plans that James and Emily are making. It would have to be after their wedding."
00000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
With the continual fog in Cornwall the trip home took three days, spending two miserable days in Birmingham. We realized that traveling in the winter was absurd and risky. It would be spring before Hamish and I would be together again. It gave us time to think. We did talk on the phone at times but continued to write. Hamish could express himself in writing so much better than when he had to respond in conversation.
It was early February when I asked Isla to serve tea in my flat. I had asked Al to come by so we could talk. Having never married I had no idea what a relationship with your own child would be like, but I don't think I could have more love for this man had I given birth to him. Morwenna and the children are as much family to me as Martin's family. I count myself a very lucky woman.
How can I ever forget the day Al was leaning against the tractor and looking like a lost child? I finally was able to pry out of him that he had used my funds, given to him for a fence project, to get his dad out of trouble. He evidently planned to replace the funds by some miracle without my knowing what he had done. My heart sank and I turned and walked back into the house.
I had not realized he followed me until he called my name.
"Ruth! My dad was in trouble and I was desperate. I'm sorry. I don't know how, but I'll find some way to make it right with you."
My response was an emotional one. "Al, you need to leave. We will discuss this further, but not today. Please go now."
It was in that moment as I heard the sound of his scooter on the gravel that a resolve came to me that is as strong as any I have ever had. I had worked with hundreds of men to whom I could not really give hope. No matter how much I helped them, they would remain incarcerated. Here was a person to whom I could give hope. I liked Al and I determined that I would do whatever was necessary to open a door of possibility. He would have the hope all those men never had.
He needed to think, so it was several days before I spoke to him again.
We were at a fund raising party at the Large Restaurant. Coming up to me he said, "I've decided to sell the scooter. That way I can begin paying you back."
I responded, "Al, isn't that short-sighted? How will you get to work without the scooter?"
"You mean I still have a job."
I didn't actually answer him. I simply let the truth of my question sink in and smiled.
Al returned the smile and in that moment, without words, we made a pact. It was the best decision I ever made. Of course there were mistakes along the way but he never disappointed. Never. He is a fine father and husband and a quite good person of business. I was shaken from my reverie by a tap on the door.
Al spoke as he entered. "Ruth, sorry I'm late and arriving in a quite grubby state. Lambing has started early this year. One of our ewes gave birth last night. Well, really about five this morning. She had a rough time, but all is well. We have twins, we do. Two beauties."
"Al, it wasn't necessary that we speak today. You could have called me.
Don't the animals need your attention?"
"No, all is good. Eva is with the new lamb. She stayed up with me all night. Morwenner and the cheldern know the routine and will get the chores finished. I'm glad to get away. A long night, y' know."
"Well, thank you for coming, nonetheless. Pour yourself a cup of tea and excuse me for a minute." I went to find Isla and have her bring Al some breakfast. He needed more than a meager scone or two.
"That really hit the spot. Morwenner brought me coffee at midnight but no food since denner. Much thanks to Isla and the cook. Sorry I look a mess but you sounded serious when you said you wanted to talk. At least that's how I took it. So tell me, what's on your mind."
"Al, to get to the point, Hamish has asked me to marry him and if that were to happen, it would likely mean my moving to Aberdeen."
"Well, no surprise there. You know Ruth we have known each other for some years now. We did alright, didnus? You are as fitty a person as I have ever known. You don't turn left or right. Maybe that is the Ellingham way.
But, you know since Hamish has shown up you have a bit of a spark. When you are with him or when you speak of him, you can't hide it. Geddon Ruth, geddon. You must marry him. Don't give it a second thought."
"But Al, I am conflicted. Since moving to Portwenn I have been quite content. Martin's family and your family mean the world to me. I don't know if I can bear not being with your children."
"Traveling back and forth is not good. I know you want to be together, so do it. Just do it. As long as you are able we will prepare a cottage and you can come every summer for a month or more. You and Hamish are welcome anytime.
"Honestly, Ruth, it'll be hard to see you move to Aberdeen. But it would be harder for me to see you lose the spark because you didn't go. We started out strictly business, but you have become like the mum I never had. You have always wanted the best for me and I'm telling you, I want the best for you too."
The longer Al talked the more strained his voice became. Something had to happen to break this emotional pressure we were both feeling. Fortunately Al
took care of it.
"What do you say about putting some things in a bag and coming to the farm? The kids would love having you there. You can see the new babies."
"That sounds good, Al. But staying on the topic, you know you haven't made this any easier."
"Oh, didn' I? Ruth, only the rocks live forever. Of course I think you are giving the rocks a run for their money. Look, today and tomorrow you can be with the cheldern, but cheldern grow up. They get involved with school and mates. How often do you see James and Emily? I really think you would like to wake up next to Hamish every morning. I know you will be 600 miles away, but if you are happy, we'll be happy."
We sat for a moment. I poured Al another cup of tea. He took a drink of it and began to fumble in his pocket. He pulled out a small brownish disc and showed it to me.
"Ruth, the cheldern found a rabbit's nest in the field by the horse barn.
They knew not to bother the rabbits, but in looking around they saw this and some other stuff that the rabbits had dug up. This must be an old coin. There were some broken steen. Not much really. Well, Tommy is our curious one and began checking. People have been living on this land for thousands of years. Some digging rabbits have made us think of them again. No one remembers them. Not to be gloomy, Ruth, but let's enjoy the day and every day. Now pack a bag and let's go to Havenhurst. We have some lambs to check on and if it doesn't rain I will take you and show you where the cheldern found this coin."
"Alright, but I must tell you: Not a word of this to anyone. Well, you can tell Morwenna, but no one else must know. I haven't even spoken with Martin and Louisa about it."
"My lips are sealed, but I hope I have convinced you. And, by the way, if you think Louiser is not expecting this then you don't know her like I do.
000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000000
A fascinating fact is that rabbits actually revealed an 8,000 year old archeological site near Land's End in Cornwall. A two-year escavation will begin soon.
