Chapter 45

They arrived at the farm at precisely 11:00. As soon as Martin opened the car door, Buddy jumped out and ran to meet Staggered, barking as he went. The smells coming from the kitchen were encouraging. Ruth met them at the door with her usual "Welcome family. Spot on time as usual. Come in and I'll fix some tea. Hello, baby nephew. My goodness! You're growing so fast and you look astonishingly like your father! Come here and let me get a good hug."

James Henry smiled his most charming toothless smile and she didn't care who knew it but the 'dried up spinster' felt tremendous love and pride for this little edition of her big nephew.

"I'll make the tea while you visit with James Henry. Look at him smile! He certainly knows his Aunt Ruth." Louisa was filling the tea kettle as she spoke.

"How are you doing?" Martin asked as he did his usual visual assessment of her.

"Stop diagnosing me! I'm a doctor, too, you know. Everything with me is very satisfactory. There is, however, something I want to tell the two of you. Louisa, have you found the tea bags? I moved them to that cabinet right above the coffee maker. Seemed to make sense at the time." Ruth, like Martin, got straight to the point.

"Yes, so you told us. Thank you, Louisa. Let's sit down so Ruth can get this over with." Martin folded his hands on the table and they both gave her their full attention.

"I've been offered an executive position at Broadmoor and I plan on accepting it." A short pause in case they offered any remarks. "Thank you for not making negative remarks about this or mentioning my age, both of you. Now, I've tried living here because Joan was sure it would be good for me. Why, I have no idea! I'm just not ready for retirement and writing books isn't fulfilling after a while. I miss my colleagues and the stimulation of working. I don't like chickens, their incessant racket, sheep or digging in the dirt. I want you to remember what I've just said when you hear the rest of what I am going to say. Agreed?" They both looked puzzled but nodded in agreement. She continued "I've been going through Joan's papers and found the ones showing that you paid your ghastly father the money he was demanding from his sister for what he claimed was his part of this place! I'm sure that your equally ghastly mother had something to do with that. But, I digress. As far as I'm concerned, this whole place is yours. Believe me when I tell you that I do not want it and don't need the money I could make by selling it. Now, questions or remarks?"

Louisa kept quiet. This was Martin's family and his decision.

He sat quietly with his hands still folded, then spoke. "Aunt Ruth, I know you well enough to believe that you've given this your full consideration before speaking to us about it. Saying that, I still feel compelled to ask if you are absolutely certain about your decision. This is a very valuable property. And, most importantly, if you hadn't found those papers, would you still feel the same way?"

She looked at him seriously, "Thank you for that nephew. Hey, James Henry! What's the matter? Here Louisa, I think he wants his Mommy." Louisa took the baby and Ruth continued. "But, please believe that I've thought this through and without a doubt mean what I said. And of course the knowledge of your love and devotion to my sister and your aunt affected my decision! But only because it re-enforced my decision. She made her will before you came here to be gp and before you paid your father. I'm quite sure she intended to change it but, you know how we humans are. Well, maybe you don't but we think we'll live forever and put things off accordingly. Now, you can either live here which would be good for the baby – at least I think it would as smelly chickens and ridiculous sheep are supposed to be entertaining – or sell it and buy or build another house. It is yours to do with as you please. I'm sorry, I should say yours and Louisa's as I've included her name on the deed. And here it is."

Martin took the deed, unfolded it slowly and read it before handing it to Louisa. With a softened expression, he said "Thank you Aunt Ruth. My happiest childhood memories are from being here with Auntie Joan and Uncle Phil. I honestly don't how I would've survived those years without the times I spent here with them. Louisa?" He looked questioningly at her.

"I'm overwhelmed by all this. Some of my happiest memories also come from the times I spent here. If I was just a little older, you and I would have met here. Thank you for including me in this Ruth." Louisa had tears in her eyes when she spoke.

"You're welcome. Now, I'm hungry. Hopefully, you'll enjoy this lunch more than you did the last one. After my failed effort even the thought of fish pie makes me ill! But this time, I showed a modicum of intelligence and ordered our lunch from Bert. All I had to do was put it in the oven for thirty-five minutes. It's chicken pie and a salad. And fruit crumble for afters. Stay where you are and I'll serve it." Ruth ordered.

"I can at least get our drinks. Louisa? Alright, water for you and me. And the same for Ruth. Easy enough." Martin set the three glasses of water on the table, got the flatware and napkins and the meal was served.

James Henry knew it was his lunch time so his parents shared that task. Martin fed him cereal and bananas – a new fruit – and Louisa gave him his bottle. Aunt Ruth wanted to wind him and he rewarded her by not spitting up on her. After they all declared the lunch delicious and helped clean the kitchen, Ruth invited them to walk to the cliff overlooking the ocean. "This is the one thing I'll miss about this place - the view. It's magnificent!" There was silence for a few minutes. Martin and Louisa were beginning to realize what had happened and their minds were leaping ahead with a jumble of plans. "I notice that neither of you has asked when I plan on moving. So I'll tell you – in two weeks. I've purchased a small flat close to Broadmoor and it's move in ready. I do have a request though. I want to James Henry to know me. I want to be part of his life and not from afar or from yearly Christmas cards like you and I have done Martin. I regret more than I can tell you that I wasn't aware of your life. How you were treated by your parents. I hope there's always room for me where ever you decide to make your home."

Louisa embraced her and whispered "Of course there will be. Ruth, you're wonderful! Thank you again."

Martin nodded in agreement and echoed Louisa, "Yes, of course."

"Good. Now I know I won't have to stay in a hotel when I come for holidays. Before you leave, I have some information to impart to you concerning the upkeep of this place. Ted has decided to marry. He would like to continue to work this place but needs a larger place to live as he and his future wife plan on having children. The tenant's house is still in very good condition and he would like to fix it up and live there. If you cover the cost that is and agree to continue his current salary. Now, do with that information what you will." Ruth said in her usual brief and dry manner and added with a touch of humor, "And the best part is you get another dog! This is Staggered's home now. Agree?"

Martin just nodded, adding it to the thoughts swirling around in his head. A very unusual condition for the logical and super intelligent man that he had always been. "Thank you Aunt Ruth. Of course, Louisa and I have several things to discuss but will be sure to speak with him before long. Are you ready to go? James Henry is ready for a nap and I have some paperwork to do."

"Yes. Tuesday is the day we interview Rebecca Sims, the sitter, and I promised Caroline I'd feed her cats and check on her plants while she's out of town." Louisa said as she leaned over to retie her trainer.

They turned and slowly made their way back to the house. Martin whistled for Buddy and Louisa got the nappy bag. James Henry was strapped in the car seat and Buddy jumped in next to him. Good byes were said and they left for home.

Martin said dryly, sounding very much like his aunt "Well, that was surprising don't you think?"

"Yes indeed! I can't find the words to describe how I feel. Such generosity! And she loves just as deeply as you do but I don't think anyone would ever guess it. You're so blessed, Martin, just as I am. We both had crap parents but are loved so much by others that it makes what happened to us irrelevant. At least to me it does. Oh bloody hell! I'm going to start crying again." Louisa sniffed and groped around for tissues.

Martin didn't speak until they pulled into the parking area and then only to say "If you'll unlock the door, I'll get James Henry and the nappy bag." Buddy jumped out, checked the perimeter of the house for intruders and resumed his guard duty at the top of the terrace steps. Martin dropped the bag at the bottom of the stairs for Louisa to empty and carried the sleeping baby up to the nursery. He was upstairs so long that Louisa got worried but then she heard his footsteps leave the nursery and go into the loo. She really needed some time to absorb that Ruth had done so went out to the terrace, sat down next to Buddy and looked at the familiar view. So much was happening all at once. The possibility of Martin working in Truro, her tutoring duties, being the ad hoc board member, interviewing Rebecca Sims, James Henry turning four months old the following week end, planning Bert's sixtieth surprise birthday party and now this. If he didn't get the position in Truro, could they afford to do the necessary repairs to the farm house? Maybe she was wrong to quit her job. "What's that old saying? Something to do with twenty twenty hindsight? Maybe I can get a position as a teacher. At least that's some extra income. I'm getting ahead of things. Maybe Martin would rather sell the place, doesn't want to live there. But if we could! That view and the space! The memory of Joan is in every square inch of it. Surely he'll want to live there." She stared at the view without really seeing it, her mind absorbed with today's events.

Martin walked to the loo, washed his hands and stood looking in the mirror with unseeing eyes. He was aware of the repairs needed to the farm house and had a good idea of the cost. It would take a chunk out of their investments but they could afford it. "Of course, if I get the position in Truro, it would be much easier financially. I definitely don't want Louisa to feel as if she should resume working full time because of this. She should follow her plan and return to work when she feels the time is right." He had never thought that someday he could live in the only place he had been happy as a child. There were memories of Aunt Joan and Uncle Phil every where he looked. But what if Louisa preferred to stay in the village, even in this house? The happiness of his family was more important to him than any house or any job. They needed to talk, or rather, he needed her to talk, tell him what she wanted, where she wanted to live.

He went downstairs thinking about something simple they could prepare for dinner. He quietly called for her but got no answer. He noticed the front door was open and saw her on the terrace, walked up next to her and sat down. Buddy acted like he hadn't seen him for days, scampering around and wagging his tail.

"I've been thinking about dinner. There's nothing much to choose from in the refrigerator or cupboard. Any suggestions?" He asked.

She shook her head and continued to look at the view. "No, not right now. Maybe later I'll be hungry and have an inspiration."

They sat, each waiting for the other to speak, both uncomfortable with the silence. Martin hated it. He had gotten accustomed to talking to her. He enjoyed talking to her especially because she didn't indulge in useless chatter or talk when he was reading his bmj's or other medical journals. She realized that they were an important part of his work as a doctor and respected them as such.

"Louisa, can we talk about this development? I'd like to know your thoughts and opinions on something this important." He said.

She turned to look at him and replied "Of course we can. But Martin, please tell me your thoughts first."

"My thoughts are that I want you to be happy with where we live. That's the most important thing to me. You know that, don't you?" He looked so serious and she melted as she always did when he looked at her like that.

"Yes, I know that and I love you so much for saying it. But, I feel the same way. I told you that when you first started talking about doing surgery again. There are a couple of reasons that I want to hear your thoughts first; it's your inheritance even though my name is also on the deed and I can contribute so little financially if you decide to remodel the farm house. I don't think I should've quit my job."

That brought a heavy scowl to his face. "What twaddle! Everything I have or ever hope to have I gladly share with you. The least important thing to me is how much money you contribute. That's a very insulting remark!"

She sighed and tried to explain. "I didn't mean to insult you. I feel the same way about you but I hope you understand that I don't want you to carry the whole financial burden of paying for the repairs if you decide that you want to live there. That's all."

"I would be very happy to do so if it were necessary. But it's not. You've contributed to our investments, if you think it would be a wise move, you could sell your cottage and with you taking care of our son, we don't have to pay an exorbitant salary for a child minder. I haven't changed my mind about that, you know. When you first decided to give up your job, I said that we're the first and best care takers and teachers for James Henry. Every time I think about a stranger taking of him I feel such dread. I know you would choose a trust worthy person but I'm just not comfortable with the idea."

She felt tears forming again. He could be so gruff and rude sometimes. Then show so such tenderness. She was the luckiest woman in the world to be married to this complex man. "Thank you for saying that. You asked me what I want to do. Ok, I want to live at the farm. The memories are wonderful but they're not the only reason. The space! The views! Think about our children growing up there. It would please me very much to make it our home. Now, your turn. What would you want to do if I weren't involved? If it was just you?"

He let out a sigh of relief and broke his rule of no public displays of affection by gently turning her face to his and kissing her lips. Before he could answer, James Henry let them know his nap was over and he needed attention. Both smiling they went upstairs together to care for their son. Half way up she suddenly made her decision. "Take out. Fish and chips from Mrs. Cronk. I'll go pick it up while you take care of His Highness. Deal?"

"Yes to fish and chips and yes to taking care of our son." He kissed her again and pulled out his wallet. "Hurry back. We have more talking to do. Can you believe it? That I want to talk?"

She laughed in delight, "You made a joke! Martin James Ellingham, you made a joke!" She turned to go back downstairs. "And it was a good one. Be back as soon as I can."

James Henry stopped wailing for attention as soon as he heard footsteps. He was watching the door and grinned hugely when he saw his father.

"Sometime I'd like to come in here after you've had a nap and not smell your noxious nappy!" Once again he had to capture those kicking legs before he could clean a messy bottom. "Now, you're clean and smell acceptable again. Hungry? Let's go fix your dinner."

He was spooning cereal and apple sauce into a hungry little mouth when Louisa carried in their dinner. "I wasn't hungry until I smelled it. Let me finish feeding him while you eat. I'll eat after he's through and you can finish what you were going to say."

"I'm not all that hungry so I'd rather feed him while you eat. But I would like a cup of tea, please." He said and James Henry grinned at his Mommy between bites.

"Ok, I'm starving! Excitement I guess." And she put the kettle on and got cups and tea bags out. "Now talk!"

"It's simple, I agree with you. I never thought I'd have the opportunity to live there! I don't want to change it too much, you know. Leave it old fashioned and, as Auntie Joan used to say, homey. Not so fine that we would worry about children and their play. The kitchen and bathroom definitely need updating, the plumbing and wiring and the boiler. I'd like to rethink the boiler. Maybe switch to another system. And add another bathroom. It's difficult with just one." James Henry had to remind his father that his main task was to keep putting food in his mouth. Martin would come out of his reverie and put another spoonful into that grinning little mouth.

"The house would be warmer if we replaced those leaky old windows. They have a beautiful patina and appearance but provide no insulation at all. Do you want the floors to be refinished or just treat them with Tung oil to add luster?"

James Henry finished his cereal and started on a bottle. "There's a local company who uses Bona Deep Clean System. They do a lovely job on wood floors. Let's check them out before we make a decision. I agree about the windows but I think we need a contractor. The house has no insulation and the attic has a lot of potential for extra space. I'd like to add a terrace, too. Can you start a list of the ideas we have? We can add more as they occur to us. And, do we want Ted to continue to work the farm? How would that benefit us?"

Louisa sat his tea cup on the table and started eating. "I don't know. And if he makes money from running the farm, then what's a good salary? Do you want to sell this place and rent an office or keep this as your surgery? That is if you don't work in Truro? And the furniture. Some of it is quite beautiful. The bed you and I slept in as children is still there. We must keep it and he (pointing to the baby) will sleep in it someday! Wow! We have a lot to think about. Let me wind him while you eat. It's very good and Mrs. Cronk's fish is never too greasy. I like her very much. And Peter is still my favorite student even though I'm not supposed to have favorites."

"Yes, he's an outstanding young man. And so is June Tregar"

"Don't you mean Jane Tregaskis?" Louisa said with a smile.

"Yes, June. I got an email from her last week. She's happy and excelling in her studies. She wants to be a neurosurgeon. She's certainly smart enough and is mature well beyond her years. I assured her that if she needs any help, we're available."

She smiled at him and shook her head in wonder. This gruff, rude man was so different than he appeared.

They went about their evening routine and seemingly out of the blue, one of them would think of something they thought needed doing with the farm house.

"I know we don't want to change much but the wallpaper in the dining room and lounge is dreadful! I hope you agree to change it." Louisa

"The chimneys need sweeping, I'm sure. Gas logs are something to think about." Martin

"I don't think Joan bought new mattresses for years. Of course, we use your bed set for our room. Right?" Louisa

"There's a storage room on the other side of the dining room wall. It could be used as an equipment room. You know, boiler or whatever heating system we decide to use, hot water heater, pressure tank for the well (which needs to be checked) and extra storage space." Martin

And on it went until bed time. Martin turned to her "Remember this morning? I said I'd show you how much I like your gown? Here's how much." He teased with his tongue and hands, whispering how beautiful she was until she groaned and pulled him to her, pushing her hips against his. Quick and fulfilling.

She lay against him, sated and happy. "Remind me to wear that gown for breakfast at least four times a week! Please?"

Drowsy and pleased with himself, he replied "Absolutely! Good night my beautiful, desirable wife."