The next few months brought changes but also a new feeling of stability to the Ellingham family. Their new house had been filled with new furniture, including items for a proper nursery, something Martin realized that James had never really had. Consequently, he took particular pleasure in helping Louisa with the finishing touches to that room and also to James' new arrangement. The last bedroom was set up as an extra bedroom, not that either adult Ellingham anticipated guests. The back spare room downstairs had indeed been transformed into a playroom for James, with enough adult accommodations for them to be comfortable there. And the front room was a study, complete with two desks, a decorative screen marking the area that was reserved for Louisa.
He'd returned full time to work which enabled him to send Dr. Pennick away, much to the pleasure of both Ellinghams. Martin had felt the need to supervise her more closely since she'd been so irresponsible and Louisa, well Louisa just didn't trrust the woman.
Martin had been at the hospital checking on a patient a few days after the move and quite literally bumped into Mr. Pitts. Martin's instinctual reaction had been a snarl. To his surprise, Pitts seemed a bit chagrinned, almost reserved in his response. Both had gone about their business and Martin thought nothing about the former pupil until Pitts met him in the lobby. "Oh good, I managed to catch you," the younger man said.
What do you want Adrian," Martin exhaled.
"I erm… I wanted to ask your opinion on a case. I um, I believe I know how to proceed but this is really your area of expertise."
Martin breathed out. "Yes, alright."
The two went to Pitts' office where the younger surgeon showed the case file to Martin. After sifting through the tests and scans along with doctor's notes, Martin had asked several questions and then offered his opinion on the best way to proceed.
Adrian listened carefully, making notations in the file as Martin spoke. Once Martin had finished with his assessment, Adrian looked up. "Thanks Chief, you're still the best."
Martin had grumbled his way through a response but secretly had relished the compliment. It wasn't often he was called upon for his surgical knowledge since his decision to remain in Portwenn as GP and it was good to exercise that part of him. At his session the following week, Dr. Engelmann had suggested that it might have been Mr. Pitts' way of apologizing. Martin acknowledged the possibility and strangely that gave him satisfaction.
But on this evening, Martin was sitting at his desk contemplating the last months, Louisa's near departure and their work to communicate together, strengthen their relationship, his accident and recovery, Louisa's pregnancy, the move to the new house, and now Louisa was leaving her job. Tomorrow was to be her last day at Portwenn Primary. He knew she wasn't entirely satisfied with the decision even though she insisted she was. He was relieved that she would be at home with their children, away from the stresses and time demands of her job but he worried that she might regret her decision.
At Dr. Engelmann's suggestion, Martin had begun a journal when they moved into the new house. It included his thoughts on the changes in their lives but also his thoughts on how he might help Louisa more with the demands of their small family; a list of sorts of things he should be attentive to. Reaching into his desk drawer, he pulled the journal out and turned to the next page. Pulling his Brio out of his pocket, he began to jot a note to do something special for Louisa every day as she adjusted to life without her career. Giving it more thought he added a note to be sure she had opportunities to get out regularly, away from the house and even perhaps in the company of friends.
Martin reflected on his notes and sighed. He was content to have things just the opposite, coming home after work and closing the door to the world. But he had learned that Louisa needed people around her. While her family was her central focus, interaction with her village seemed to buoy her. As Headmistress, she'd had plenty of interactions with others but as simply a wife and mother such interactions would require planning and Martin knew he would have to participate sometimes. It would be uncomfortable for him but for Louisa, he would do it.
His mind wandered back, traveling beyond her attempt to leave him to travel to Spain and all the way back to when she did leave him after his plans for London had been delayed and they had moved back into the surgery after his replacement had collapsed. She had returned to her little cottage where her mother was staying. He remembered that evening, him taking out his clock to work on it and realization that had settled over him that he really didn't know how to do a relationship. He'd been caught in a seemingly unsolvable conundrum about how to manage living in such close quarters with his little family and it had taken her accident for him to realize just how much he depended on her presence, even in a small way. It had taken Dr. Engelmann and his own accident for him to make the changes necessary to keep her in his life. In fact, his accident had taught him to depend on her as he had never depended on anyone. And now, they depended on one another. He couldn't imagine life without Louisa.
The door to the study opened and she walked in, smiling. "James is asleep."
"Mmm, good," he replied softly as he watched her cross the room to lean against the edge of his desk. "What are you reading?" she asked as she nodded toward the still open journal.
"What? Oh… " he answered, closing the book. "That's a …erm, journal. Dr. Engelmann suggested it to better organize my thoughts and… emotions."
"A journal? Goodness… and you were writing in it? So husband, what are you thinking and feeling tonight?"
Martin sighed. He couldn't avoid the question, he knew. "Just… how much has changed in my life and that I am very glad that you are here, Mrs. Ellingham." He looked up at her with that expression she had come to recognize as wholly hers. He never looked at anyone else in quite that way with so much emotion in those wide eyes. She reached to touch his cheek and his eyes closed in complete contentment. "And I am very glad I am here too, husband."
Louisa seemed a little lost the next morning as he left for surgery. She'd risen early to prepare his breakfast and had tended to James. The baby was content on the floor with his toys as she bade Martin a good day and watched him out the door. The dishes were cleaned quickly and Louisa found herself in the middle of the kitchen wondering what to do next.
James pulled himself up and toddled toward her, his steps still wobbly and unsure, even though he'd taken the first ones a couple of weeks ago. He reached for her and Louisa bent to lift him feeling a bit unsteady herself with the weight of the baby and James to manage.
They went to James' playroom where she pulled out one of his favorite little cars and he began to push it across the floor. She settled on the couch, chewing her lower lip. She felt off this morning and at first thought it had been because it was her first day to be at home. But as the morning progressed she began to suspect something else.
Martin returned at lunch and walked through the door to the happy squeals of his son. He stopped by the hig chair that James sat in to give the boy the customary greeting of touching with the backside of two fingers and then a palm to the boy's forehead. Louisa smiled as she watched the interaction. Martin had begun that when James was an infant, Martin's way of checking on the baby. But now it was engrained in the both of them and James seemed to recognize the touches as Martin's way of a hug.
"How was your morning?" Louisa asked him.
"Alright. The usual, sniveling malcontents and various absurdities. Although your friend Pippa did call for me to go to the school. One of the children fell through an open window."
"What? Which student? And which window?"
"Erm… Billy or Bobby… perhaps a Robbie… Fell through the window overlooking the garden. Landed on his posterior; no real harm although he'll be a bit bruised a sore for a few days."
"But you can't remember his name?"
"I told you." Martin looked at Louisa and saw her worry. "Small for his age, red hair and freckles, brown eyes."
"Tommy Gilbert," Louisa supplied.
"Erm, yes… perhaps that's him." Martin looked at her intently "Are you alright? How was your morning?"
"Yes, I'm fine; just adjusting, I suppose. Felt a bit lost at first, not having to rush off to school, but James Henry kept me entertained."
Martin glanced at their son and then back at Louisa. "Good. You haven't much time before the baby comes and every minute will be filled. Hopefully this time of adjustment will be of benefit."
"Right," Louisa agreed, eyeing Martin suspiciously.
For Louisa, the afternoon went much as the morning had, except for when James napped. Then she was utterly lost. Martin had a busy afternoon at the surgery and as they were closing, phoned Louisa he would be a few minutes late.
Once the surgery was closed and locked for the night, he sauntered downhill, passed the turn to their road, and continued into the center of the village. Turning a corner, he stepped into one of the shops and looked around, suddenly feeling unsure. But then he spied what he believed to be a perfect choice and purchased it, heading back up the hill to turn towards home.
Louisa and James were in the kitchen when he stepped through the door. She looked up from a pot on the stove and smiled at him. "Oh good, you're home then."
"Yes," he replied. He gave James the required touches and then went to his wife. "I erm… I brought this for you," he said as he held out a small bouquet of flowers.
"Oh Martin," she exclaimed. "They're beautiful. Thank you. But um… why?"
"Why what?" His expression revealed his lack of understanding.
"Why bring me flowers?"
Martin frowned. "I thought you might like them."
"I do but… well, usually you don't do things like this."
"Mmmff," he grunted. "Perhaps I should… more often, I mean."
"You don't have to," she insisted."
His frown deepened. "But I wanted to. Can't I try to do something nice for you without you questioning it?" Frustration accented every word.
Her eyes widened. "Oh Martin, I'm sorry. I just… this is so unexpected. I thought you were going to tell me you'd made someone angry and I'd be hearing about it or something like that."
Martin flinched. "What? I… "
"No, it's me Martin. I made an assumption and I'm sorry. And I do love the flowers. That was very thoughtful of you."
He watched as she found a vase and put them in it. Carefully she carried them to the table. Stepping back she smiled. "Lovely," she whispered.
James squealed, jolting Martin who turned to lift his son into his arms. Louisa crossed to them and they stood there happily for a moment before the timer on the oven chimed and she hurried off to tend to the fish inside. Martin watched aher and then looked at James and wondered how he had mucked things up again.