Morning came quickly and beautifully. When I opened my eyes, Louisa was asleep cuddled up against me. Last night I had told her that she was the only woman I had ever loved and she believed me.

"How could you ever doubt my love, don't you know that you're my world?" I whispered in her ear.

"What's that Martin?" she mumbled, still half asleep.

I unbuttoned her pyjama top and began caressing her breasts. Her skin was warm and soft and I could smell the lavender scent on her that had become her new favourite. She sighed contentedly and murmured, "I love when you wake me up like this."

We continued like this until she took matters into her own hands and, turning around to cradle my face, she began kissing me, working her way down to my nipples. One thing led to another and as a result, we stayed in bed longer than we had planned.

A soft knock on the door startled us. It was James. "Dad, Mum, are you awake?"

I looked around to see that the room was decent, grabbed our robes and straightened the duvet.

"One minute …Yes, we are. Come in."

James came in, followed by Rosie. Both were still in pyjamas and looked as if they had been up all night. James was carrying a tray and laid it on our bed. Espresso for me and tea for Louisa. Then they settled themselves in the window seat. This was an intimate family situation that I never imagined I would ever experience and feel comfortable about - laying in bed on a Sunday morning, having my espresso with my family around me.

This was the first time we were all in the cottage together and Louisa seized the chance to quiz James.

"Would you enjoy spending weekends here?"

"Sure. It's comfortable, private, near to Uncle Chris and Aunt Jenny, near to the airport and to the village. Driving down was easy although I had to make a couple of stops for Rosie."

Louisa was immediately curious. "Rosie, is something wrong? Martin, can you help her?" She keeps forgetting that our son is a capable doctor, as is his wife.

"Mum, it's nothing ... I, we, have something to tell you," James blurted out.

My morning had started off so well, what could be wrong now? I didn't want to know. A small sound escaped Louisa and she reached for my hand.

"Rosie is pregnant. We're pregnant."

In the far distance, I heard Louisa alternately screaming and laughing and felt her body pressing against mine and her arms hugging me all over.

"Martin, we're going to be grandparents."

I remembered my response to Roger when he had asked me at my wedding if I was ready for grandchildren. I had waffled. A grandchild was not on my radar. Yet, here in the sanctity of our bedroom, with Louisa and I in bed and still recovering from the upheavals of the last few days, I was being told that I was to become a grandfather.

I was still learning to be a father. It hadn't been easy because James was grown when he came to London. Adjusting to being a husband, and as a mature couple, had been a little easier, although Luisa and I still had our bumps in the road as we did two nights ago with our screaming match.

I vaguely remembered the only grandparent I knew, my father's father. He and my dad never got along, so there were few opportunities for our interaction. Added to that, I spent most of my childhood away from home in sundry boarding schools. He was a tall imposing man who rarely smiled and when I was around him, he would not tolerate me fidgeting. In fact, he preferred that I was seen and not heard. A surgeon, he was a cold and distant man, no model for what I now thought a grandfather ought to be. Louisa hadn't fared any better. She never knew her grandparents. Neither of our parents had been around to be grandparents to James. Mine had died not knowing about his existence. Not that it would have mattered. Louisa's father never met his grandson, but she had kept him in touch through letters and photos.

Looking at James, I vowed that in us, his child would have the grandparents it deserved.

When I focused, Louisa, James and Rosie were looking at me strangely.

"Is something wrong?" James asked worriedly.

"No, no. This is such a shock. Congratulations," was the best I could get out.

"That's not all, we have a problem," I heard James saying. I braced myself for bad news.

Rosie who had been quiet, joined the conversation. "My parents disapprove of my pregnancy and want nothing to do with me. They have cut off financial support and asked me to collect whatever little I have at home."

Louisa jumped out of bed and hugged her. "Everything will work out, Rosie. Do you know how many weeks along you are?"

"Eight weeks. I found out the day you left London."

Seven months to go. That sunk in and as head of household, I sprang into action. "Let's get dressed and we'll talk at breakfast."

When James and Rosie left the room, Louisa came back into the bed and eased herself into my lap.

"Can you believe it? We're going to be grandparents. Now we have something else to celebrate."

She was so happy that she was almost crying. "Yes, we do," I said softly. "Let's get dressed."

"You have your shower, while I look for something special to wear today."

I was half way finished when Louisa pushed her head through the door.

"Have space for one?" Of course I did. The bathroom was comfortably large as I had requested, complete with a whirlpool tub for Louisa to have her lavender baths and a separate walk in shower. I hate small, pokey bathrooms and with Louisa sharing it with me, I had them install discrete storage for her stuff.

She wrapped her arms around me, and with our bodies pressed against each other, warm water pouring over our head and down our body, we kissed tenderly. I looked at her slicked back auburn hair generously streaked with grey and thought she would make a lovely grandmother. And a beautiful one, with her infectious smile and warm, bubbly laugh.

"We're going to be young at heart grandparents, not old fuddy duddies." she declared as I massaged her with soapy water and allowed the water to wash it off.

"Just remember that this child will have parents. We're only the grandparents." Knowing Louisa, I felt I had to warn her. I couldn't see myself going to sports days, after school sports, picnics and whatever it was that grandparents did.

"Only grandparents!" she said in mock indignation. "I'll have you know Granpa Martin that grandparents play an important role in developing a well-rounded child.

"Please don't call me granpa, Louisa."

"So what do you want to be called?"

"I don't know, anything but granpa, and I have seven months to figure it out."

"Well, do you want to be called Sugar Daddy?"

I tilted her head so that the water splashed her face. "Okay, okay, I get it."

"Don't you think you're rushing ahead? A lot could happen in seven months."

"There you go again being your cautious self."

I didn't want to argue with Louisa about our grandchild, so I changed the subject. "Shouldn't we be getting ready for breakfast and the opening?"

"I suppose we could," she said smiling as her hand took liberties with my body, that only she was allowed to do. "But it's not every day that you learn you're about to become a grandparent."

I knew that what she had in mind might take us well into breakfast. "We have been in here for too long, James and Rosie might be wondering what's happening. I had promised them to continue our discussion at breakfast."

She relented but not before extracting a promise from me. "A rain check, then. We'll continue our special celebration another time. And by the way, when I'm with my husband I don't want anybody wondering what we're doing."

I got dressed first then went downstairs to prepare our meal. Our world might look better on a full stomach.

Rosie was an only child. Her dad was a successful real estate developer and her mother, a socialite. Their dream was for her to marry money or at least someone whom they presumed to be of their own social standing. Initially, they had disapproved of James as a suitable suitor and had only accepted him when they found out that I was his father, a surgeon. Like most parents, they wanted marriage first, then children. When Rosie told them that she might be pregnant, they had an argument. Her mother advised her to abort it because it would interfere with her studies. Her real reason was her fear of what her so-called friends would think.

When Rosie refused, her mother decamped to Paris for retail therapy while her father retreated into the arms of his mistress.

"I don't want that life. When I met James, he was a breath of fresh air from all the men my parents thought befitted my so-called station in life. James is supportive … we will manage."

Tears were welling up in Louisa's eyes and I knew she was remembering that my reaction to her pregnancy was my reference to an abortion. Not that I meant it.

"Everything will be fine," I said as I squeezed her hand. "Rosie and James will manage," and completing the sentence in my head, "just as you did."

"I know they will. It's just the surprise of it all. I'm very happy, you two," she said to them.

Turning to Rosie, I gave her as much assurance as I could, knowing that her parent's rejection had marred what should have been a happy event.

"It will be difficult staying on schedule with your studies, but you won't be the first doctor to cope with an unexpected pregnancy. As for financial support, that is not an issue. You and I will talk some more."

"Thank you so much Mr. Ellingham, I would appreciate that." She sounded shaky and I wondered how James felt about becoming a father. I would have a talk with him later. I hoped he was not putting on a good face for Rosie's sake. How the hell did they let this happen, anyway? They are doctors, for Christ sake. I smiled ruefully to myself. History has repeated itself.

Everything was happening so fast. Ready or not, I was going to be a grandfather, with a family that would increase from three to five, maybe six, in the short space of seven months. I tore myself away from my thoughts to acknowledge Rosie.

"Please call me Martin. We're family now."

We were still talking at the table when my phone range. It was Dave. Everything was ready. He wanted us to come down for a final walk through before the Exhibition was open to the public. That would be three hours away.

The Exhibition was even better than we could have hoped for. The damages had allowed us to recreate and restage it in its real setting. Having a team of architects on board had led to some cleaver solutions. Input from bright young people who had grown up in Cornwall such as Peter Cronk, Michael Dunwich and the Fenn twins, as well as the village craftsmen who volunteered their services, had given it special meaning for the people of Cornwall.

Minutes before the opening, Al drew me aside.

"Doc, may I have a word with you?"

I looked around, there were people everywhere. "Can we talk later?"

He motioned me away from the crowd, towards the parking lot. "No. There's something I need to say to you."

We came to a stop beside my car and I looked at him with a mixture of expectation and irritation.

"It's none of my business ... but it's all over the village."

"What's all over the village?" I had never known Al to be a clearheaded thinker except under duress .

"As I said, it's none of my business ... People are saying that the doctor who damaged the exhibits is your girlfriend and she came here to embarrass you and get back at Louisa."

"What!"

"And that's the good part. I don't believe a word. However, I think it would be proper if you explained that she did it because she wasn't well. You could do it at the opening... just a sentence. You know how the villagers love to gossip. That would put a stop to it. "

"How can I do that? I'm not even on the programme and I don't care what people want to think."

"Yes, you do. If not for you, for James and Louisa's sake. All you need is one sentence."

Al giving me advice was a strange turn of events. Yet, for my family's sake, his suggestion made sense. As for the wild tales about us, they could make up all the stories they wanted.

"I'll see what I can do." That was the only promise I could make.

At 12:15 pm sharp, Janet cut the huge ribbon in the black, white and gold colours of Cornwall, and Science is Cool became a part of Cornish history. The cheers could be heard all over the village.

Janet had insisted that Louisa and I join her on stage. There were cries for speech, speech and that's when I explained briefly why Margaret had acted as she had. Ross interrupted me.

"Doc, everything worked out and the lady is getting medical attention. We cannot thank you and Louisa enough." Turning to the crowd he asked, "Everyone, please give the Doc and Louisa a round of applause.

I looked out and saw the appreciation for our small contribution. Even Louisa turned to me and joined in the applause. When it quieted, she mouthed, "I'm proud of you."

The crowd pleaser was a simulation of London's Science Museum humanoid Bionic Man.* A few geeks at The Centre had come up with the idea of building their own version of the Bionic Man. We had turned down their request. The cost, scale of the venture, lack of access to bionic technology and access to realistic human body parts was beyond our capability. There was also no point in creating a shadow of the real thing and doing that would have been impossible, if not illegal, for someone outside the biomedical profession. However, they were determined to do it and came up with a robot-like structure whose nod to realism was a "functioning" battery-powered heart that appeared to pump blood.

Children and adults alike could not get enough of it. The line to this exhibit seemed never ending. Although it was a very amateur venture, I was pleased by its reception. It elicited the response The Centre strived for: Stop, Think and Ask. I was thrilled to see that right there, James, Peter and a few other scientists, including Michael Dunwich, had taken it upon themselves to lead small group discussions about advancements in biomedical innovations.

I overheard a little girl talking to her mother who was dragging her away from the exhibit.

"We could get artificial legs for Granddad. He says his don't work as well as they used to work."

Her mother looked at me apologetically before she responded. "No need for that. Not yet. His legs don't work because he sits before the television all day. They will work better if he walks more."

Parents came up to Louisa and myself and thanked us effusively. So did the teachers and everybody who had any connection with Cornwall. After all that had happened, Louisa and I were grateful that everything had turned out so well. It's success augured well for the rest of the tour through Cornwall.

Peter came over to greet us. "I'm proud of you, Mrs. Tiggle."

"Oh Peter, I'm now Mrs. Ellingham but you can call me Louisa. You're old enough for us to be on a first name basis."

Peter shook his head and smiled at me. "Mrs. Ellingham is fine. I see you have not forgotten us or the school."

"Peter, we have a home in Cornwall and we will be here from time to time. As for the school, with graduates like yourself, I could never see an opportunity like this and not think about making it available."

She told him where our home was and in her best headmistress voice said, "Just call before, but please come and see me. And when you're in London, do the same. That's an order, Peter."

Peter, hesitated, then hugged her. She ruffled his hair and sent him packing with, "You'll always be my little Pete."

Before we left, I got a chance to speak with him. I always knew that he was a gifted child and had often wondered what had become of him. "I hear you're in Orthopedic and doing brilliantly."

"From you, that's a compliment, Mr. Ellingham. Thanks. I love what I do, it's fascinating. New technologies are constantly being introduced and I have used some of them at the hospital and developed a few of my own."

I gave him my telephone numbers and email address. "Imperial has a couple of conferences planned for next year and some research grants that might be of interest to you. Think about it, then call me if you're interested."

"Thank you Mr. Ellingham, I will."

After standing around patiently listening to Louisa chit chatting, we took our leave of the Exhibition.

Dinner with James, Rosie, Chris and Jenny was especially pleasant now that the worry of the Exhibition was over. Chris proposed a toast.

"To Mart and Louisa for their gift to Cornwall. Cheers."

Without warning, Louisa joined in. "To James and Rosie for making us grandparents. Cheers."

This was news to the Parsons. Jenny was all over James and Rosie, along with Louisa, and the conversation about grandparents began all over again. I didn't have much to say. It was more interesting to watch them happily chatting away and to see the joy on Louisa's face.

When he was leaving, Chris took me aside.

"This must come as a shock. You were more than your usual quiet self at the table."

"That's an understatement. I didn't want to say the wrong thing and spoil Louisa's joy. She's so happy about it. I just hope that I'll live up to her expectations of a grandparent. "

"She knows about children so take your cue from her. When you hold your grandchild for the first time, you will know immediately what to do."

I wanted so badly to believe him. "Whatever you say, Chris."

On our last night in Cornwall, I cooked dinner for Louisa. It was freshly caught cod, sprouts, beans and baked potatoes, followed by cheese and apple. It was the exact meal that I had cooked for her at my home after our first engagement.

"You remembered!" she said looking around when I brought the food to the table.

"I remember everything that happened that evening." That included how shy and awkward I had been with her at the table, dropping the ring and scolding her for adding salt to her food. I knew from her smile that she was remembering too.

"Well, at least I now have the ring," she teased, holding it up to me for inspection.

"You have more than the ring. You have me, my undying love and now a grandchild."

"You're so right, Mr. Ellingham. Everything I have is all I have ever wanted."

After dinner, Louisa and I sat around the table talking. We had packed most of our belongings and stacked them by the door, ready for our trip home tomorrow.

"Can we make our last night here memorable?"

"It couldn't get any more memorable. The Exhibition, becoming grandparents ... Auntie Joan would be impressed. Ruth is beside herself. She can't imagine being a grandmother at her age, because that's what she'll be, for Joan, she said."

She leaned over, sat in my lap and whispered in my ear. "Not that kind of memorable, silly. Memorable between us. You do realize that this has been a sort of honeymoon for us?"

"Honeymoon? With all that has happened, one after the other?"

"Then let's slow down the pace and make it a real honeymoon."

The offer was tempting. She had dressed up for dinner in a red top which fell away from her shoulders invitingly, exposing her soft skin, and a pair of black slacks and her favourite red boots.

"Please come up to bed with me," she said as she unbuttoned my shirt and ran her hands over my chest.

"It's too early. What if someone calls?

"Oh Martin, this is not the village. Nobody turns up at your door here. If you're worried, we'll turn off our phones and lock up the house. For those who can't reach us tonight, there's always Christmas when we return."

She didn't need to persuade me any further. I held her hand and allowed her to lead me upstairs to make sweet memories.

*Modelled after the Million Dollar Bionic Man unveiled at London's Science Museum in February 2013. The world's first complete bionic man, comprising artificial organs, synthetic blood, robotic limbs and a human face. And as if that's not enough, the artificial man can speak and listen, too. It was part of the museum's How much of You Can Be Rebuilt exhibit (Digital Trends, February, 8, 2013)