Thank you for all of the lovely comments so far on this story. I appreciate them. I am trying to show that both Martin and Louisa have grown. Often, with a show, I think it's hard to imagine growth when you see them on screen week after week. This is where I believe James helps. We see him aging, getting older, and that has to remind us just how long Martin has been with Louisa. I'd like to think that yes, they have their set ways, but they are growing together as a couple and as a family. I like to think that they are sharing more, even if we don't see it. They, in my opinion, have to because Martin realized, through therapy, what he had to lose if he didn't change. Just my thoughts..after all, these are wonderful characters. I claim nothing and just enjoy my fantasy writing about them. Thanks to Buffalo for creating these wonderful characters.
It was now Monday morning, the beginning of a new work week. Martin had just returned from taking James down to school and was getting things set for the day in the surgery. At Louisa's gentle prodding, he had agreed to give Morwenna a few days off after her night at the hospital over the weekend. He had put his foot down, though, at Louisa's suggestion of an entire week off, a paid week off, and compromised with Morwenna coming back on Thursday. He felt that was reasonable considering that he would be without a receptionist for several days, but he also understood, after he and Louisa had talked, that it would be kind of him, a phrase that usually didn't go with his name, to give her time to recover, paid of course. He had not said it aloud, but he very much cared for Morwenna and the work she did for him. She was the best receptionist he had ever had, even with her quirky ways, and knowing that, he did not want to lose her employment. Best to keep the staff happy, something he'd been reminded many times during his surgery career.
So, Martin would be on his own for a few days. Louisa promised to help some when she had free moments during the day, and she also promised that when she was helping him, she would dedicate all of her focus to the surgery. He'd so "politely" reminded her of her help back just after James was born, and they'd had a bit of a heated discussion that this situation now was very different. For one, the girls were older and taking regular morning and afternoon naps. For another, she and Martin weren't at odds with each other and awkward around one another as they had been during that time. Also, she wasn't so drop dead exhausted as she'd been, so yes, she'd told him this would be much better. She could assist him for an hour or so in the mid-morning and again in the mid-afternoon during naps. That meant that she didn't get her normal work done around the house during those times, but she was pleased that Martin was helping Morwenna and was glad to pitch in as she could.
Now, though, he was in his office and going through some of his early morning paperwork. It was just after half past 8:00. James was tending to his schooling, and the surgery was set to open at 9:00. Martin glanced over as he heard Sadie making a noise. That was something that had become a common place too. He had an infant swing in the corner of his surgery office, and in these early morning hours, there was often a baby in it. Over the last several months, he and Louisa had worked through many morning scenarios, trying to find some semblance of calm and normalcy. The fact was that the two of them were responsible for not only getting themselves ready for each busy day, but they had to dress and feed two infants, as well as deliver a small child to school-on time. It was not for the faint of heart, and yes, they were aware parents everywhere had similar situations, but also like everyone, they had to find their routine. Then, as the girls grew and continued to change, those plans were constantly being altered. Now, with the girls over five months old, Louisa had just started introducing solid food to them at breakfast. Martin would get up and ready for the day, get James up and ready, and while he was doing that, Louisa would handle getting the girls up and getting breakfast out for the three of them eating regular breakfast. Martin would walk James to school after breakfast while Louisa would get the girls into their chairs and attempt to feed them. By the time Martin returned, she was finishing up and cleaning up the mess. They'd started bathing the girls in the morning because of the mess. He would finish in the kitchen, while Louisa would take both girls for their bath. As one finished, Martin would put that girl into the swing in his office so he could get to work while Louisa finished upstairs and got herself ready for the day. Normally, just before 9:00, they could all be ready. It was hectic, but it was working.
Had someone told Martin even just a few years ago he would have an infant swing in his surgery office, he would have balked at the idea. Now, he rather liked looking over at one of his girls there swinging away. It brought back memories of having to sometimes juggle James while having patients. Thankfully, this was much more of a normal routine, one that he dare say he even enjoyed.
With his relatively calm routine in place offering him time to collect his thoughts and be alone, well as alone as one could be with an infant babbling away and swinging in the corner, he was startled when his office door burst open prior to the surgery opening. He glanced at his clock before looking over at his intruder.
"Ellingham!" Edith bellowed, and Martin's face turned to horror. "Glad I caught you before your simple villagers bombarded your surgery for the day." She closed the door, strode over to the chair, and she took a seat, all while Martin tried to grasp what was happening. He was speechless, sitting there with his pen in his hand. Finally, he caught up to his thoughts and cleared his throat.
"Edith, what in the world are you doing here? This is highly inappropriate! This is my office, in my surgery, in my home! You can't just barge in here at your will."
"Heading back to London later today," she said, shifting in her chair, ignoring anything he had said. "Fate has a way of bringing things about, don't you agree? Ellingham," she said with a sly smile, "it was fate we linked up several years ago when I was doing my presentation. I believe it was fate I ran into your mother now months ago in London. Ahh," she said, glancing up at the ceiling, "we had quite the chat, discussing you, all of your issues, and she's in agreement with me that you could be back to being that top surgeon if you would just let me help with your issues. You kicked that blood phobia, and it was your fear of intimacy that kept you from me. I'm willing to look around that. We've both matured. What have we to lose now, hmm?" She grinned at him. Martin pursed his lips, now as he listened, rather looking forward to putting her in her place. Before he could speak, she continued.
"You are too cultured and prominent to sit in this little simple village," Ellingham. "Now, I heard that you'd initially delayed your return to London because your aunt, what was it, Aunt Jane, had died. To be honest, it was refreshing that you weren't just staying away because you were hiding from me. As things go, circumstances change. I know Imperial could not wait for you to sort your aunt's issues. Well," she said with a huge smile, "there just happens to be an opening, not the head of vascular, but one nearly as good. I believe fate has us here again, and I will not take no for an answer this time. I'm going to get you back to London where you belong, and that also includes with me. Your fear of intimacy will be mine to conquer.
"Edith," he snarled, his eyes locking hers as he continued to hold his pen, "if you would just shut up for one bloody second, I would like to speak." Edith's eyes conveyed that she was surprised at his outburst. Before he could continue, Sadie made one of her loud baby noises, and the adults looked over her way.
"Is that," she gestured with her hand, "a child?" Edith looked to him in horror at the idea a child would be in the room. It was the same look he would give people for having dogs in the room. He rolled his eyes.
"No, she's a badger," he said sarcastically. She turned back in her seat and gestured at him.
"Oh, right," Edith nodded and gestured to the door. "You have that receptionist," prime child bearing years, but," she paused for moment as if trying to recall details. "I thought she had no children, but with the average intelligence in this village, maybe she didn't understand my questions."
Martin glared at her as he stood and moved toward his daughter. It was okay if he wanted to insult the villagers; he lived here. He'd married one, and as had been pointed out, he had three village children. He wasn't going to let horrid Edith swoop in and hurl insults at his family and life choices. He looked back at Edith as he spoke, "Edith, as I've tried to tell you, but you've continued to interrupt me, I do not have any issues, at least none which you need to correct." He paused to bend down and unbuckle Sadie from her swing, noticing that he quite fancied her little dress for the day. He was horrid about noticing Louisa's outfits; everything looked lovely on her, but he had started to notice when the girls were looking particularly sweet in little dresses Louisa like to put them in. He had commented on them one day, that the dresses seemed unnecessary for babies, but she'd explained that she had two little girls and wanted to dress them up. At the time, he had just rolled his eyes, finding it impractical, but now, he quite enjoyed seeing them all dressed out for the day. Today, he knew Louisa had plans to go to the library baby class over lunch. He picked up Sadie, and turned, ready to drop his news on her, and just as he was ready, Louisa knocked as she opened the door and walked into the office. Being before office hours, she often did that, and he was fine with it.
"Martin, I know the surgery is about to open, but I wondered if you could have a look at Eliza. I think she's cutting a tooth." Louisa was focused on Eliza, not expecting an early morning intrusion and was now once again face to face with Edith. "You again," she said and stood still in place, Eliza on her hip. Louisa showed no emotion.
Martin made eye contact with Louisa, and then, he turned his attention back to Edith.
"As I was saying," Martin started speaking as he put Sadie up to his shoulder, his hand on her back, "why do you automatically assume this baby is my receptionist's baby and not my own?" He patted Sadie and moved back toward his desk, all while Edith looked up at him in surprise and over to Louisa.
"You're joking," Edith said, chuckling herself.
In unison, both Martin and Louisa answered.
"I don't joke," Martin said.
"He doesn't joke," Louisa stated loudly.
"So, this," Edith gestured from Martin to Louisa, still chuckling. She was unable to admit she had been wrong; no one would ever turn his back on her for someone else. "This, thing," she looked at Louisa, ""I underestimated you. You trapped him with one, apparently," she nodded, a sly grin on her face, "and with your geriatric status, convinced him you were lonely and in need of a second, but apparently, the joke is on you, you sad villager, that fertility drugs gave you three. Hmm, if you had seen the best, me," she indicated pointing to herself, "I could have made sure your test tube baby, your final hold on Ellingham, could have been just what you wanted, not two more children."
"Shut up, you horrid woman!" Martin barked at her. He'd had enough and was baffled that Edith, as smart as she was, had jumped to this conclusion, instead of the perfectly simple one, that he and Louisa were married with a family of their own. He instantly regretted yelling, as he felt Sadie jump at the sound of his voice.
"Let me have a go of her Martin," Louisa looked at him with a nod, her tone harsh and ready to fight. He could see the fire in her eyes. "I've held my tongue and have something to say." Louisa was visibly angry. She turned and pointed at Edith.
"You are a horrible person and honestly, you aren't that good of a doctor. You have no bedside manner, which I realize isn't a requirement," she said glancing at Martin before she continued, "but you don't even do a good job at your job. You told me my baby was too small for his size and even hinted that I was either too stupid to know when he was conceived or that my baby would have mental issues, that something was horribly wrong. Well, news for ya! He's perfect. He's brilliant. He was born weeks early and was actually big for his age, imagine that," she said throwing out a laugh. She was gesturing wildly now with one hand while the other gripped Eliza. "I. wasn't wrong on conception. That was easy and enjoyable to remember. He's incredibly smart and to my delight," she flashed a bright smile, "he looks just like his daddy, just like Martin. Now, why you are such an idiot, as my husband commonly refers to people, and yes," she paused and pointed to Martin, "he's my husband. Get that through your head. See the ring. Again, not such a bright one, are you?" She nodded to Martin and saw Edith shift her eyes, even if she didn't shift herself. Martin stood there, watching, glaring at Edith, all while patting Sadie's back. His wedding ring was on prominent display there across Sadie's back.
Louisa took a deep breath, but she had more, "He asked you to leave once, and I think it would be a good idea if you did so again. Rather that, I'm telling you to leave. Leave our family. Leave us alone. He's not interested in you, he's not going to help you with research, and he's certainly not interested in discussing anything personal with you." She paused, looking at Eliza, almost for the first time realizing she had the baby in her arms. She was about to gesture for Edith to get up and leave, but she spun her hand around and pointed at her again. "Oh, and another thing, he has no fear of intimacy, at least not with me!" Louisa started to laugh and shook her head, "Quite the opposite if I do say so, which I normally wouldn't, but you just can't get your claws out of him. He's a wonderful husband, a great father, and despite what you want to believe, all three children-all natural, no test tube babies as you want to dream, just my either overactive ovulation or complete lack of, nothing in between. Honestly, with James, it was like Martin looked at me, and I got preggers, not much different with the girls once my body decided to ovulate."
Louisa finally realized she'd gone too far, at least with personal information. It was like now that she had her one chance to tell off this woman, this horrible woman who had tried to repeatedly interfere in their lives, who had tried to take her place and move Martin to London, she couldn't stop. She had to let it all out. She was about to say more, when she heard a cough. She turned around to see a waiting room now full of patients, fully aware she'd just blasted their private lives to the village. She took a deep breath, turned back to Martin, and she calmly said, "Martin, your first patient is ready." With that, she walked to him, scooped up Sadie from his arms, and she turned with both babies in her hand, looking at Edith, "Shall I walk you out?" Martin stood there, still in shock at Louisa's outburst.
"No," Edith said with a smile, one of those fake smiles that she'd now plastered on her face as if Louisa's outburst had no effect on her. She stood and turned to Martin, Louisa just a few steps from him with both girls in her arms, and Edith nodded to him.
"Meeting your mother several months ago in London, I thought she was wrong. She learned from me that you and I went way back, that we had been quite the item with quite the chemistry. She told me I'd dodged one with you, that you were never going to be worth anything. I told her she was wrong, that I could get you back to the top of your profession in London, that we could be that medical power couple. I see now," she glanced at Louisa, "your mother was right. You are just a lowly GP here in this village, and even worse, you've procreated and are raising sad little village children. Well," she said with a nod, "your mess. Louise," she said with a nod and a sly smile.
"Do not ever set foot back in my home," Louisa called to her. As Edith walked out, Martin called one last time, finally over the shock of the conversation.
"Edith," he said, and she turned, almost pleasantly surprised he was calling after her. "In addition to the things my wife so publicly professed, I must add that you are a terrible writer. Your medical articles are boring and arrogant. You believe yourself better than everyone else. I didn't want my name tied to yours all those years ago whit your research because it was horrid. Good day." With that, he moved by Louisa, gestured to the door, and he indicated Edith should move along and out of the room.
"First patient," he called out, not even knowing who it was, "I will be with you shortly." Once he had Edith out of his office, he turned back, walked right by her, walked into his office and shut the door. He and Louisa needed a minute.