Chapter 19

It was Saturday morning and Martin had closed the surgery an hour early so that they would have plenty of time to tour several properties that the estate agent thought might be suitable for a new surgery. Their appointment was for noon, and Ruth had just arrived to watch James. It was now 11:30 and they needed to leave in fifteen minutes in order to wend their way through the village traffic and arrive at her office on time. Martin called up the stairs to remind Louisa of the time, and she shouted back that she was almost ready.

She was struggling to find something appropriate to wear. All morning she had been wearing the old leisure suit that she had used for physical education classes when she was teaching at the school. It was comfortable for cleaning the house and doing laundry, but far too casual for touring potential surgery locations. Now, suddenly all her clothes were too tight; it seemed as if, almost overnight, she had blossomed. Her waist had disappeared, and her tummy had become more rounded. She hadn't reached this point with James for at least another month.

All the dresses that she could have worn that afternoon were too snug. Even those that she was able to zip stretched over her belly emphasizing her rapidly expanding shape. They were, all of them, strewn across the bed along with all of her favourite slacks. It was imperative that she pull out her old maternity clothes from the box that she had stored in the loft, but there was no time for that now. She dug deeper into her closet and found a patterned tunic from years ago that would hang loosely over a pair of stretchy yoga pants that she had worn after James' birth when she was performing her post-natal exercises. She looked in the mirror and decided that, despite being a bit dated, it was acceptable for the day's outing, along with a loose sweater should the wind pick up.

She trotted down the stairs to find Martin standing there jiggling the keys to the car impatiently. She looked at him defiantly, "Sorry, I couldn't find anything to wear. I've suddenly outgrown all my clothes."

"Mmm … "He grunted as he looked her over. "Yes. I can see that your uterus is starting to expand … not at all unusual by the beginning of the fourth month in a second pregnancy."

"Really?" She looked down and realised that there was a slight bulge pushing against her top. "I don't think we will be able to keep this pregnancy private for much longer. I'm going to have to go shopping for some new clothes next week. But maybe you could fetch the box with my old maternity clothes from the loft later … when we get back."

"Of course." Martin opened the front door and took her elbow to help steady her as they walked down the steps to the car. It had rained earlier that morning and the steps were slick.

Samantha greeted them warmly when they walked into her office a few minutes after twelve. There was always some sort of traffic jam on the roads leading into and out of the village in the summer with tourists thinking they could navigate the narrow roads and then discovering that they couldn't and having to back up. Those that had the good sense to use the car park at the top of the village treated the roads as footpaths, taking in the sights without regard for cars trying to pass. Martin never had any patience for their antics and today was no different, and he sounded his horn impatiently to clear the way. They had successfully maneuvered past the Platt and up to the school with time to spare when they were trapped by a large van blocking the road in front of Louisa's old cottage forcing them to wait several minutes for the driver to unload the truck before moving it. By the time they pulled into the parking area in front of the estate office, Martin was incensed and muttering under his breath. He accepted Samantha's offer of a bottle of water and had calmed down by the time she pulled out the brochures describing the properties she planned to show them.

They drove to the first location, a small house in an excellent location right at the top of the village on the main road; it had a living room and two bedrooms on the first floor with a full bathroom. Martin declared it too small with no room for expansion if he wanted to grow the surgery. The next house was a bit larger with a lounge area suitable for reception, three bedrooms and a den on the main floor along with a single bathroom. The house was a good size, suitable for a comprehensive surgery, but the area set aside for cars was small, only two spots and no land for expansion. Martin was beginning to despair of finding a new place.

All through their exploration of the two houses, Mrs. Trappet had been staring at Louisa curiously. Finally, knowing that Samantha was too much of a professional to ask, Louisa pulled her top snug over her belly and grinned at her, "Yes, it's what you think it is."

Samantha threw up her hands and rushed over to her and gave her a hug, "Congratulations. That's wonderful news. When is the baby due?"

"Not until mid-January … still a good many months to go."

Samantha turned to Martin and burbled, "Congratulations Doctor Ellingham. I'm sure you are both delighted." She paused for a moment as if in thought, "You know, old Mrs. Nancarrow up the road from the surgery is moving to Hightrees next month."

Martin nodded his head, 'Yes, she consulted with me about the move and I signed the paperwork."

Samantha continued, "She contacted me yesterday. She's thinking of selling her house. She had hoped that one of her children would want to move into the house, but they are all settled further south and it's not convenient for any of them. I know you had decided to stay in your current location since there are no homes available in the village proper, but you might want to reconsider. Her house may not be centrally located, but it isn't all that far from the centre of the village, and it would be perfect for your family. It has three good sized bedrooms on the first floor with two bathrooms, and a nice size living room, a big kitchen, and a separate dining room along with a study and an extra bathroom on the ground floor. The kitchen and bathrooms need some updating but the house is solidly built and up to code. And there is a nice garden where the children could play."

Louisa looked over at Martin, 'Perhaps we should consider it."

Martin gave her a questioning look, "Perhaps. We can discuss it later. Let's continue with the last two possibilities for the surgery." Martin had thought they had decided to expand their current home and move the surgery, and now the plans might be changing.

The next two buildings both had potential for use as a surgery, with large entry rooms suitable for reception along with three or four additional rooms suitable for examination rooms as well as a kitchen where various medicines and supplies could be stored. And each location had room for four or more cars. Either property would be ideal for a larger surgery; but now that he had found several suitable properties, he was hesitant. Hadn't he decided just last weekend when he and James were out, that he would bide his time for the next year, see how the various projects that he was working on played out. Should he really make the investment in a new larger surgery building when he might be moving away from his role as the village GP. True neither of these two properties were likely to be on the market next year if he should decide to take on a partner and expand the practice; but as he inspected the last two homes and thought more about it, he knew that, at the moment, he just wasn't ready.

All the while, he pondered the availability of the larger home just up the road from the current surgery. He was familiar with that house, having made several home visits in the past year to Mrs. Nancarry. She had recently fallen and broken her hip and was recovering in hospital, but she would never be able to manage in that big house even after her bones mended. The home's situation at the edge of the quiet side of the village had a certain appeal for him yet it still had a clear view of the harbour which would appeal to Louisa. Whether their family relocated or the surgery relocated, there would be changes needed to the current surgery building, and he didn't relish the idea of living in their current home during a major renovation. The more he considered their options, the more he felt the pull of a bigger home further up the hill. By the time they were ready to leave, he had made a decision. He pulled Louisa aside, "I think we should look at that house."

"What house Martin?"

"The one close to the surgery, the one Mrs. …. ummm... wants to sell."

"Ahh … yes. I agree, we should consider all our options." She turned to Samantha, "Martin and I would like to look at Mrs. Nancarrow's house if you can arrange it for us before we make any decision."

Samantha grinned, "I do think you will like it. I'll see when she would be able to show it to you."

As we approach the end of the year, I'd like to wish everyone in the Doc Martin fan fiction community a joyous holiday season as well as a healthy, happy 2021 with many stories to bide our time until filming starts in 2022.