A Bit of Fun
Outside it is a little colder and Louisa pulls up the hood of her coat and wraps a scarf about her neck. Gordon is wearing only a jacket and scarf and regrets not bringing his overcoat. They enter a gallery for the warmth, and Louisa is taken with some brightly colored contemporary paintings. Asking Gordon what he thinks of them, he replies: "They're nice."
"Okay, then," she laughs, "we're off to the maritime museum. It's perfect for you."
Louisa takes Gordon's hand as they hurry down the street unable to talk because of the wind. At the museum, he exclaims: "Brilliant. This is the type of place I love to bring the girls. Everything is easy to understand and nothing is fragile." They walk through several exhibits and then climb from the first to second floor to examine the hull of a ship suspended between the two stories.
Many people are leaving the lifts near the ship and walking down a nearby corridor. Thinking it may be an interesting exhibit, they follow. Outside a large room, a guide explains there will be a programme by a group which plays music from the 1960s and 1970s – mostly by the Beatles. They perform each month and are very popular.
Louisa relates that her mother loved the Beatles, and her dad said mum would dance about with her while listening to their music. She now does the same with Philip. They find seats at the back of the room and soon four gray-haired, somewhat portly men appear to play the old songs Louisa remembers from her mother.
Like many people in the room, Louisa stands to dance and sing along with the group. Gordon enjoys the music and watching her but can't bring himself to join in. The last song before intermission is "I Want to Hold Your Hand," and Louisa pulls Gordon to his feet. Her joy is infectious and Gordon finds himself singing the chorus, "I want to hold your hand," while gazing at Louisa and doing just that. God, she is beautiful. After that miserable trip from London to Portwenn, she probably thought she'd never be happy again. Now she is and that alone makes Gordon happy.
After the programme ends, Louisa asks the guide if they have a nursing area in the museum. They do, but it is closed this weekend while a plumbing problem is being repaired. She recommends a children's bookseller nearby. Somewhat embarrassed, Louisa tells Gordon that she must express her breast milk and is going to visit the shop. She'll say goodbye to him now and then return to Portwenn.
Gordon has so enjoyed Louisa at lunch and the concert that he did not expect the day to end so soon. He offers to accompany her to the shop, select some books for his daughters, and then walk with her to the car park. It is now getting dark, and he would feel better – actually having more time with her does make him feel better.
They walk to the bookstore and find that it has closed. Louisa asks if there is a coffee shop close-by, and he did see one near the hotel. They turn in the opposite direction and hurry to the shop. It has only a unisex lavatory, and not a very clean one at that.
"So much for the ease of breastfeeding a baby," she laughs.
"Louisa, I plan to run this evening. If you want to use my room, I'll have a run." She thanks him, but wonders if it isn't too cold for a run.
"Not all that bad really. You've been dragging me all about Plymouth in the frigid wind, and now I am immune to the cold. Come on – let's get to the hotel before I have frostbite."
In Gordon's room, he removes his jacket and takes his running kit into the bath. He emerges minutes later ready to run. He even has a knit hat which he promises not to wear until he is out of Louisa's sight. Looking at her breast pump, he suggests she proceed with her medieval torture device.
Her breasts are very engorged and as she begins to pump, she breathes a sigh of relief. Then she calls Caroline again. Philip has just gone to his cot, but he is not asleep, so Louisa sings to him. In a few minutes Caroline returns saying he is sleeping now and had a good day. Louisa explains that she is pumping but should leave Plymouth shortly. "Oh, Louisa, stay as long as you like. Sir Philip has awakened a maternal instinct that I thought was lost years ago. He is such a dear boy."
Sitting in an arm chair with her feet on a hassock, Louisa feels quite cozy. On a side table Gordon left a copy of the "British Medical Journal." Having nothing else to read, she leafs through it and finds an article about the return of tuberculosis in developed countries. Many of the cases were identified in nursery schools, and this is of great interest to Louisa, particularly as they had a case at Portwenn Primary.
After 20 minutes she has finished the article and pumping. Traces of the wine from lunch may be in her milk, so Louisa discards it. Her production has been good, and she has a supply of frozen milk for Philip as well as the formula her hungry baby sometimes needs. Returning to the chair, she tries to read another article while waiting for Gordon. The early morning drive and wine have made her drowsy and she is soon asleep.
On his way back to the hotel, Gordon stops at a small grocer to buy water for himself and juice for Louisa. She mentioned that the wine at lunch was a welcome change after drinking much too much orange juice during her pregnancy and nursing. Among the juices is a cherry raspberry blend which Louisa might like. With no time for supper before leaving, he selects a few apples, biscuits and a wedge of cheese for her trip. He adds her favourite, a Kit Kat bar, and smiles knowing she'll eat it first.
Louisa is sleeping when he returns, and he'll let her rest for the drive to Portwenn. Calling Freia's home to wish Charlotte and Evelyn goodnight, Elizabeth reports that they are too busy playing princess and won't talk to him. She assures him that the girls had fun today and really do miss him.
After he showers and dresses, Louisa remains asleep, so Gordon checks emails. Only a few routine announcements from St. Thomas's and one from Margaret saying her family has fully recovered. They are even thinking of forgiving him for ruining their Christmas week in London.
If he switches on the telly that might awaken Louisa, so he retrieves the journal from her lap and stretches out on the bed to read. An hour or so later, Louisa awakens and finds Gordon asleep. She smiles thinking what an exciting pair they are – she has to pump breast milk and falls asleep, then he has a run and falls asleep. It is after 9:00 and Louisa must return to Portwenn.
After using the loo and packing her pump case, Louisa gently shakes Gordon saying that she is leaving and can make her way to the car park alone. He has been lying on his side and rolls to his back. Stretching, he drowsily looks at her and mumbles, "Hullo beautiful." She sits next to him on the bed and strokes his hair. He looks so sweet with his sleep-softened face that she would like nothing more than to curl up with him and let the night develop as it may.
Gordon takes her hand and reminds Louisa of their agreement made at lunch: she will phone him only if she is ever done with Ellingham. Until then, there will be no contact between them. And he is fine with that. Who knows if Louisa will ever contact him again or if he'll even want to see her. They had a wonderful time today, and he'll leave it at that. He can get over her. He can do nothing else.
He helps Louisa with her coat, dons his and opens the door. They say little in the lift or on the walk to the car park. Several times, Louisa tries to explain in an apologetic way, but Gordon quiets her saying: "It's quite alright. We had a good day. That's what you wanted – a bit of fun and a catch up."
At the car park, Louisa says "of course" she will drive him back to the hotel – it is so cold. "Not necessary, Louisa. I feel like walking tonight." He places the bag of apples and such in her car, and she rolls her eyes as she sees the Kit Kat bar: "You know me all too well."
Gordon is a bit stiff as she tries to hug him, and Louisa can manage only small peck on his right cheek. She knows him too well. Gordon wishes her good night and a safe trip, and she wishes him the same. As Louisa drives from the car park, he waves and turns in the direction of the hotel.
On his way there, he leaves a message for Chris Parsons saying he is in Plymouth and asking if they can meet on Sunday. Chris rings as Gordon enters his room, and they arrange for breakfast in the morning. When Chris asks what brought him to Plymouth, Gordon responds: "Had to meet someone for lunch."
"Was it a job interview, Gord? Because if you want to leave London, we have several good surgical postings in the PCT."
"No. I wish it were that simple. Let's just say I proved Ellingham's point that I'm an ass and leave it at that."
Chris laughs: "You're never going to get over Ellingham are you?"
Gordon thinks, maybe I'll get over Ellingham.
Continued . . . .