Even as I finished dressing for Imperial's Genius Awards where I would be honoured as its 21st recipient in its 100-year history, I was regretting my decision to accept the Award.
Glancing over at Louisa who was already dressed, I asked "How do I look?" I had on the cuff links she and James had given me to mark the occasion. It had been engraved with the words, at last and I was deeply touched by their gift.
Her answer was a kiss on my cheek. "You look more handsome and distinguished in your tuxedo than I have ever seen you. I love a man in a tuxedo. Perhaps we ought to start going to more fancy events," she suggested seductively.
I returned her kiss. "No we don't. We had better get going or we may never leave here." Then with a grimace, "I hope the evening will be short."
I wasn't looking forward to being in the spotlight. Worse, I dreaded delivering the acceptance speech that was expected of me.
Before we left the house, Louisa had a warning for me. "Please try not to look bored."
"I'll try, but no promises. These events are an awful waste of time."
For years, Imperial had tried to get Martin to accept their Genus Award in recognition of the cutting-edge innovations he had developed in vascular surgery, his brilliant surgical skills and his rarified leadership in his field. He had turned them down repeatedly with the excuse that he was a paid employee just doing his job and that was the only reward he wanted.
However, the forces began conspired against him when Robert attended Martin's wedding. Robert was amazed that Ellingham and the beautiful headmistress from Cornwall had gotten back together. He was smitten by Louisa and as he watched her walking up to meet Ellingham, he was struck by her adoration for a man he thought was a lifelong bachelor. He had never met Louisa but had heard the rumour about their breakup, the son Ellingham had fathered and had watched James's entry into Imperial with a sense of déjà vu.
Since the wedding, Robert's need to have Martin accept the Award had become an obsession, especially because the Awards was traditionally held in October. Plus, for the last 10 years, Imperial had not identified any other candidate who met their stringent, some said impossible, criteria other than Martin. Robert had retired years ago, but still wielded enormous influence from his seat on many of the hospital's influential committees. He recognized immediately that James was another genius in the making. Therefore, he had to get Martin to accept the Award before Imperial could begin grooming his son.
Seeing how happy Ellingham was on his wedding day, Robert correctly guessed that as a family man he might be more disposed to accepting the Award, if not for himself, his family.
And so, unbeknown to Martin, that was why he and Chris were enjoying curry at their favourite Indian restaurant, in Mr. Patel's inner sanctum. Mr. Patel's establishment was on a first come first serve basis. When lunch was over, it was over. This was the rule he imposed without fear or favour. However, he was an astute businessman and did make the occasional exception. For Martin and Chris, his longtime customers, more friends really, lunch was always available.
After being served by Mrs. Patel in their personal dining room above the restaurant, Chris and Martin enquired about the Patel's children and grandchildren, looked at photos of the family, then settled down to their meal. But, not before Mrs. Patel asked Martin when was he going to bring his wife around.
Martin could understand that if she worked at Imperial, she would know about his marriage. She didn't, hence his question. "My wife? You mean Louisa?"
"Yes, Martin, your wife Louisa. Word gets around, " Mrs. Patel said with a twinkle in her eyes. "I hear she's from Cornwall so I'll have to go easy with the curry for her. Just let me know before you bring her."
Turning his attention to Chris after Mrs. Patel had left for downstairs, he asked, "What business brings you to London?"
Chris airily explained. "Jenny wanted to visit Greg so we're here for the weekend."
"Oh," Martin sighed, not believing a word. Hadn't Chris and Jenny stayed with their son a couple of weeks ago when they came for his wedding in June?
"Robert tells me that you have turned down the Genius Award."
"Oh, not that again," he grumbled.
"Yes, that again. Now that you're a family man and James is a doctor, you may wish to reconsider it as a gift to your family."
"Well done," Martin muttered sarcastically. "I see that Robert and the Committee have gotten to you."
"No Mart, not so. Haven't we had this discussion every time the Committee approached you? Have you spoken to Louisa or James about it?"
"Whatever for? I work at Imperial and my salary goes towards providing for them. I can't see how an award is going to change that."
"I can. If not for Louisa, think about James. It would make him so proud of you. They don't dish out that award like candy, you know, only to the truly deserving who have reached the pinnacle of their profession."
"Chris!"
"I know, I know Mart. Just think about it. I would give an arm and a leg to be even considered for this award. You have been short-listed and refused it so many times that sometimes I think you are a reckless sod tempting fate. Talk to your wife and son before you say "no" again. That's all I ask."
James had been non-committal. A true Ellingham, his response had been, "Your call, Dad."
Louisa was thrilled. "It's an honour you deserve, Martin. Look at all the setbacks in your life and how much you have worked to overcome them. Think about James. Think how proud he would be of you," she said as she made small circles on his shoulder as they lay in bed one night. Martin was more thinking about the effect her touch was having on him, and dutifully promised to give the award some thought.
"I'm serious Martin," Louisa had insisted, well aware of the power her body had over him and not wishing him to brush the matter aside.
As Martin and Louisa were escorted to their seat at the head table, his friends and colleagues rose to their feet and burst out in applause. Martin smiled shyly back at them while Louisa held his hand even tighter and flashed her famous smile. For many, it was the first time they were seeing Louisa and they couldn't take their eyes off her and the way Ellingham looked at her adoringly. They looked stunning and so much in love. Many eyes then turned towards James, the other Ellingham to watch, and were amazed by his uncanny resemblance to his father and, and from all reports, the medical gift he had inherited from him.
Louisa had helped Martin to prepare a list of special guests to share the evening with him. For all Martin cared, the evening could to be over and done in at most, an hour. Louis thought otherwise. Sitting at two special tables were Chris and Jenny; Robert and Grace; James and Rosie; Paul Milligan and his wife Betty; Victoria and her husband Lance; Zee and Marissa; Mrs. Green and her husband Kenneth; Viola, her husband Bill, and their daughter Jackie; Martin's assistant, Isaiah Bent and his wife Joan; his lead researcher, Mary Pringle and her date, Don, and Dennis, who had come to represent Aunt Ruth. She had declined the invitation saying it was a lot of fuss, although she was secretly very proud of her nephew.
"The night belongs to Joan, not me," she had dryly told Louisa. "Martin's life has certainly picked up since you and James came back into his life."
When Martin walked up to receive his Award, after sitting through a lengthy citation of his extraordinary achievements, he was given a standing ovation. Through all the flashing cameras and handshakes from colleagues who joined him on the dais to offer their congratulations, his eyes never really left Louisa.
Nobody expected him to wax poetic when he began his acceptance speech by thanking the Board of Regents, other notables and his colleagues. That was not his style.
"I'm honoured to be conferred with Imperial's Genius Award. Save for a for short time in Cornwall, Imperial is the only hospital where I have practiced. I have grown up with this hospital and learned my craft from its many illustrious surgeons. I came of age at Imperial, and, even as my time here is coming to an end, I'm humbled that you, my peers, have seen fit to recognize my work as the Genius Awards 21st honouree."
You could hear a pin drop when he dedicated the Award to his Auntie Joan, Uncle Phil, Louisa and James.
"Auntie Joan and Uncle Phil always made time to listen to me when, as a boy spending summers with them in Cornwall, I would race excitedly inside or wherever they were on their farm to tell them about something new I had discovered about the world around me. I still remember how proud I was each time I found one of the 42 species of butterflies, of the order Lepidoptera, for which Cornwall is famous. Joan and Phil Norton were honest, salt-of-the-earth farmers, not scientists. Yet, they were the ones who bought me books to nurture my curiosity and never tired of listening to me. The lessons I learned in Cornwall went beyond those I learned in some of London's best public schools. This Award belongs to them.
To my wife Louisa and our son James, this is also your Award. You were the other two important people in my life in Cornwall. Whatever good I achieved in the furtherance of medical science, whichever life I was able to save, it was done in tribute to the purpose and meaning you gave to my life."
With this, he bowed to his colleagues on the dais and those in the audience and took his seat beside Louisa who planted a kiss full on his lips.
It took a few seconds before everyone realized that they had heard Martin Ellingham, with their own ears, sharing a very personal story and that they had seen him, with their own eyes, receive his wife's kiss with a smile. It took the evening's Chair a good five minutes to quiet the applause and shouts of "Prof." that filled the room.
The formal part of the evening over, Martin moved around the room greeting friends and colleagues and introducing Louisa to the many eager to meet her.
Louisa stayed to chat with Zee, Marissa and Viola while Martin moved on.
"Seriously Louisa, I'm glad you're back in Martin's life. For all the years I have known him, I never believed he could be so happy. He hasn't always been like this you know," Zee said, kissing Louisa on her cheek. "We are forever indebted to you."
Marissa couldn't help asking. "How did you get back together after all these years?"
This was a question Louisa had been asked many times so she had a ready answer. "We were an insecure lot when we first met, but had never stopped loving each other and our son kept us in each other's lives. Time and tide brought us together again when we were ready for each other."
"Yours is truly a love story," Marissa said with moist eyes. "I have known Martin for a very long time and I'm happy for him. Guess you also had a hand in getting him to accept the Award?"
"Not really," Louisa said with a straight face, but she did remember her conversation with Martin the night he had told her about it and how eager he had been to move things along when she began caressing his shoulder.
Paul was delighted. It gave him great professional satisfaction to know that he had a hand in curing Martin's haemophobia and he was proud that Martin had brought Louisa to him to help with her problem. What a love story, he mused as he watched them enter the room holding hands. Louisa was glad to see him and had whispered in his ear as she greeted him later with a hug, "Thank you so much for helping us. Tonight would have been impossible without you."
"You both did the work," he had responded modestly.
Martin caught up with Louisa as she was talking to Chris and Jenny. "Can we leave now?" he asked, his hand caressing the exposed part of her back. The evening had gotten too much for him and he wanted to be alone with her. He had watched her all evening and couldn't help marvelling at how beautiful and confident she looked in the red gown she had bought for the occasion. It had a demure high neck in the front and long sleeves but was open almost to her waist in the back.
"Not yet, Martin. You're the guest of honour. It would be bad form to leave so early."
Actually, Martin wasn't minding the evening so much, especially watching Louisa and James being acknowledged by everybody. He was very proud of his family.
"When are you two going on your honeymoon?" Jenny asked. "Your cottage is almost ready. It would be nice to spend Christmas in Cornwall, your engagement anniversary. "
"Have to get back to you on that. Martin can't think so far ahead now," Louisa said with a laugh.
"Oh. Well, the evening is still young," Jenny said and looked at Martin with a grin. It was true. Martin couldn't wait to get Louisa home.
Chris had listened to the conversation with a satisfied smile as he saw how well Martin and Louisa had taken to married life. There was a worry at the back of his mind, though. He had spotted Dr. Kent at the back of the room seated with some of her colleagues. He knew Martin had not invited her and if Louisa saw her she would have been very upset. Why was she here anyhow? He decided to have a word with Viola the next day. He needed have worried, she had not escaped Viola's eagle eyes.
Viola hadn't earned a reputation for being Martin's friend and staunch supporter for nothing. When she saw Dr. Kent leave the room to go to the loo, she followed swiftly, waited until the door closed on her, then asked the two security people outside in the hall to close the loo and direct others to another facility down the corridor. She explained that the doctor inside was having a medical distress and she needed the privacy to help her. They were taken with Viola's charm and quickly did as she instructed.
When Dr. Kent came out the stall, Viola was waiting for her, and casually reapplying her lipstick.
"So, Dr. Kent, what are you doing here?
"Oh, good evening. I didn't know you were here. I came with some colleagues to support Mr. Ellingham."
"Cut the bull doctor. I want you to leave the building now."
"Who the hell do you think you are, asking me to leave? Is this your function?
"Don't hell me woman. I have filed a report to your supervisor for your harassment of Mr. Ellingham and I can do so again. Mr. Ellingham does not want you anywhere near him or his wife, at this hospital, at his home, or anywhere else they may be. Do you understand me?
"I don't know what you're talking about. I should report you for harassment. "
"Go right ahead. Now," Viola looked at her watch, "I don't have all evening. I want you to leave this function, this building now."
" Why should I? I can't leave. I'm with friends."
"Yes, you can. The last time I checked you were not on the guest list."
Realizing she was beaten and not wanting to go up against the formidable Professor Grant, her next words, in her meekest voice, were "At the very least, you will allow me to go back inside to say goodbye to my colleagues, won't you?"
Viola was not in the mood to negotiate.
"Listen doctor, here are your choices. You can leave here and walk straight through the door of this building or you can go back inside to say goodbye, accompanied by me and a security person. Make your choice, and quickly," she snapped.
The entire interaction took exactly seven minutes from the start of the conversation to the time Viola stood on the steps and watched Dr. Kent walking across the street, back to the hospital.
"I have a mind to escalate my report to the Board for harassment. The nerve of her," she muttered then went back into the hall, took her seat and gave Chris a wink.
When the car that had been put at our disposal for the evening brought us home, I took a long breath as I opened the door for Louisa. Once inside, I got us a glass of water and went upstairs to our bedroom. Louisa kicked off her shoes and sank in the bed.
"Martin, I'm so proud of you. Good thing I married you. You were always a catch, you know."
"Me? You mean you. Everybody wanted to be introduced to you and I saw a lot of doctors eying you," I said in mock jealousy.
"And what are you going to do about it? I came home with you, didn't I?"
"Yes, you did." Getting serious, I asked, "Are you happy you married me?" I'm not sure where that came from, but from time to time I seemed to need that reassurance.
"Martin, I don't know how you dream up these questions. Where is this coming from? I love being your wife. I love being with you. Tonight is your night. Come here."
With that she grabbed hold of my hand and pulled me down beside her on the bed. "If you want another award for the night, you will have to earn it," laughing as I began tugging at the zipper on her dress.
All through the evening, I had stolen glances at Louisa and looked out at James. Never before had there been anybody who cared enough about me to attend any of the functions where I had been given a prize or an award of some kind. And there had been many of those. Joan and Ruth, of course, always called and sent a card. My parents had never been to any save for my medical school graduation and they only came because their friends would find it strange if they hadn't. It had been a disaster. Dad got drunk and spent the evening cozying up with a female colleague. Mum sulked over many glasses of vodka.
I still didn't give a damn about the award, although I appreciated the honour. Louisa had prepared a special place for it on the mantle in our upstairs sitting room. It would join a couple of James's awards, some of hers and some of mine that she had brought up from my study. I would do anything to make my family happy. Louisa was ecstatic about my award, although I suspected that tomorrow's newspapers might devote a column inch or two to describing the beautiful Mrs. Ellingham.
Looking at Louisa laying on our bed smiling, her hair spread out around her, her dress half way down to her waist exposing her barely covered breasts, I was filled with lust and love all at the same time.
"I'm going to earn my most meaningful award of the evening," I vowed and proceeded to undress and caress her until she lay still and pulled me close. "Now, Martin."
"I love you so much," was all I could say before we lost ourselves in each other as she gave me the priceless award of her love. As we lay cuddled in each other's arms, Louisa cradled my face and said, " You make me very happy. Mr. Ellingham."
"Me, too, Mrs. Ellingham."
Then we fell into a peaceful sleep.
