Chapter 34

Both Louisa and Michael had been busy at the beginning of the week, Louisa with the start of the new term and Michael catching up with all the patients who had put off tending to their problems until he had returned. Even though he was American, he was a popular doctor and the villagers were comfortable with him. Of course he had had to put up with the gossips telling him about Louisa spending time with Martin, but as she had already told him they had been to dinner and that Martin had been at the dance, he wasn't too concerned. Many of them did imply that Martin had spent several evenings at her cottage, but Michael had lived in the village long enough to know how these stories grew more elaborate with each and every telling.

Tuesday afternoon he had to attend the monthly PCT meeting. As they were gathering beforehand, some of the others were discussing the Parson's open house on Boxing Day and meeting with one of his old mates, a distinguished surgeon, Martin Ellingham. It was an opportunity seldom available to GP's working in the beautiful, but remote reaches of Cornwall. They went on and on about his brilliant mind and his insightful answers to many of the questions proffered till Michael thought he couldn't stand it any longer. Finally Parsons started the formal part of the meeting, and Michael, who usually enjoyed the camaraderie of socialising with his peers, finally relaxed.

Afterwards, as he was heading back out, Chris Parsons pulled him aside, "Umm, O'Leary, do you have a moment?"

"Certainly Chris. What is it?"

"Well, I was wondering if you know a Louisa Glasson?"

Michael was a little surprised at the question, but replied, "Yes, of course I know Louisa. She's the primary school head teacher, and we work together frequently monitoring the health of the school children. Why?"

"Well this is a bit awkward, but you see, a friend of mine, an old mate from medical school, brought her to our Boxing Day open house. She seems very nice, but, well ... you know how women are ... Michele, my wife, wanted me to find out if she is seeing anyone." By this point Chris had stuck his hands into his pockets and was rocking back and forth on his feet, nervously chuckling in an attempt to keep the conversation casual. He looked up at Michael, expectantly. "Do you know if she is seeing anyone?"

Michael, taken completely by surprise decided it was best if he not admit to his own interest in Louisa, but not wanting to lie to his boss, prevaricated by saying, "I think she may have been seeing someone, but I don't know if she is serious."

"Hmm," Chris ran his right hand over the top of his head and pushed his glasses further up his nose, "It's just that...well...I don't see it myself, but Michelle is worried that my mate might get hurt. She seems to think he is in love with her. Are you certain she's not serious about anyone?"

"I don't think so. You know how these small villages are. I would think I would have heard something about it over a pint in the pub, or from one of my patients. They are always anxious to let me know the latest gossip while I'm trying to examine them."

He had managed to put Parson's mind to rest, but his was in a turmoil. He was hurt that Louisa didn't tell him about the open house. Why didn't she tell him? As he thought about it more, he became angry; she should have known that he would see Parsons and that he might mention meeting her. She should have told him. By the time he had returned to the village, he was in a rage, and he headed straight to Louisa's cottage to have it out with her.

Louisa was preparing a light supper when she heard pounding at her door. Startled and somewhat wary, she walked quietly to the door and looked through the peephole. It was Michael; but why he was pounding on her door she had no idea. She slowly opened the door, "Michael, what is it?"

"Chris Parsons," he bellowed, as he stormed into the cottage.

"What?" She didn't understand what it was he was screaming about and she looked at him, her face a question mark.

"Chris Parsons! When were you going to tell me?" He was obviously furious.

"Tell you what?" She quickly closed the door, no need to give the nosy neighbours a show. Her mind raced wildly until the pieces suddenly came together; somehow Michael had found out about her visit with the Parsons on Boxing Day.

"You went to the Parsons' Boxing Day open house with Ellingham. Were you going to tell me? Or did you think it was better I heard it from my boss. You do remember that Chris Parsons is my boss, right?"

The shock of being the recipient of Michael's anger left her at a loss for words and it took her a moment before she realised exactly what it was he was ranting about. Louisa cast her eyes downward while she thought of the best way to respond to avoid escalating the argument. She had never seen him like this and it frightened her somewhat.

"So were you going to tell me? Do you realise what an awkward position I was in when he asked me if I knew you?"

Pulling herself together, she was able to reply calmly, "Yes, I did go to the Parsons' open house with Martin and we had a lovely time."

"We had lovely time?" He shouted back at her incredulously.

"Well, I had a lovely time. Chris' wife, Michelle is a teacher and she introduced me to many of her colleagues. It's always good to meet others who have to deal with the Cornwall council. And it was fun to listen to Martin and Chris and Michelle reminisce about their time in medical school."

"From what I heard, Mister Ellingham was spouting off medical 'bon mots' the whole time. Mr. Ellingham this and Mr. Ellingham that was all I heard at the PCT meeting this afternoon. I can't imagine when he had time to reminisce, as you put it." Michael huffed.

"Oh really, Michael. Stop being an arse. Yes, Martin was surrounded by all sorts of doctors most of the afternoon. I wasn't part of their conversations; I was too busy meeting lots of other interesting people. I was glad he asked me to join him; it was an opportunity to meet people I wouldn't otherwise have had an opportunity to know...and it was certainly more entertaining than sitting around the house making table centrepieces for the holiday party." She didn't really want to tell him that they had stayed several hours more after all the other guests had left.

"I just can't believe you didn't tell me when we had dinner Sunday. I feel like I don't even know you anymore."

"If you recall, you did most of the talking Sunday telling me about your holiday. I'm sure the Parsons' open house would have come up eventually. It didn't seem important."

"Didn't seem important? You going to my boss' open house is a big deal. You should have known that. And having my boss ask me if I knew you and if you were seeing anyone put me in a very awkward position." He had felt embarrassed and wanted to make sure she understood how difficult it had been.

"He wanted to know if I was seeing anyone? Why would he want to know that?" Louisa could accept the village gossiping about her. After all gossip was the main source of entertainment in a small village, but why was Chris asking around about her? She couldn't help wondering "Did Martin ask Chris to check her out? That didn't really make sense as he only needed to ask Joan and she would have given him all the information he needed."

"Evidently his wife is concerned you might be leading Martin on. I can't see why. It seems to me that he's such a big shot London surgeon, he can take care of himself...arrogant arse."

"Okay...enough of this conversation." She escorted him to the door. "I think it's time for you to go. Come back when you've calmed down."

Michael found himself on her front porch, still not satisfied with her answers. Parsons' wife thought Martin was in love with Louisa. He was certain that she was right; women could sense these things. He also sensed that Louisa's interest in Martin was more than just friendly. In any case she was obviously open to his attentions, and Michael really didn't know what to do about it.

A visit to the pub would be a good place to plan his strategy, so off he went. The news of his row with Louisa had already made the rounds of the village and the regulars greeted him with sympathy. "Mike, heard about your fight with the lovely Miss G. Come and have a pint and tell us all about it."

He settled in at the bar and took a drink, "Women. I'll never understand them"

All his mates couldn't agree more. "You can say that again." "Ain't that the truth" "Them's a different species, alright". On and on. They laughed and joked and he felt comforted. But in the back of his mind, he couldn't shake the sense of loss beginning to overtake him.