They had been to three car lots, and they were at their last stop. Had it been up to Martin, he would have already purchased a vehicle. He'd tried to suggest Louisa get a car identical to his, as it did hold the three children. She'd balked at that idea, wanting something different. He did understand, but he also had standards. Their first three stops had been very quick; Louisa hadn't liked anything she'd seen, but finally, they had found something. Now, though, it appeared they were about to compromise, and he was pleasantly surprised with the vehicle.

Martin had not been one to think he would enjoy an SUV, but the BMW they were looking at now was quite satisfactory, well, except for the brilliant blue color. It wasn't quite a navy, brighter than that. Louisa loved it; he could see the smile she gave him. He would have much preferred black or silver, but it was fine; she was happy. He was getting a bigger family car, and he could fit in this one just fine. They had both driven it, and they'd even put the girls' seats in it to see how far forward that pushed the driver seat. It all fit. The trunk area was also more than satisfactory. Martin dare to say he was impressed.

"Do you think we should keep looking?" Louisa asked him, biting her lip. She blew the hair out of her face, both girls in her arms as Martin finished inspecting the back of the car storage. He closed up the car and turned to her, motioning to her to pass over one of the girls.

"No, I do not. We've been all over town. Do you like this one?" Martin nodded to the BMW.

"Yes, of course, what is not to like, Martin? Well, I suppose the price," she bit her lip. "It's simply too much."

"No, it's not," he said with a nod. "It is exactly what I expected to pay. A good, safe vehicle isn't cheap, Louisa. We should never sacrifice our family's safety for anything. This has all the latest in safety features, is large enough for the children, and we both enjoyed driving it."

"I do LOVE the color," gushed Louisa with a huge smile as she ran her hand over it. Martin grimaced, thinking the opposite. "I don't know, Martin. I've never owned anything this expensive."

Martin jerked his head slightly, "What are you talking about? Our home costs more than this car. Your cottage did too."

"Yes, I know, it's not the same," she frowned. "I'm driving around in something very expensive. It's also very pretentious, and well," she frowned again, "that's not me."

Martin balked, "It's not pretentious! You're a mother to three small children. You need a bigger vehicle. This works. I'm the village GP. People expect us to have a certain standard of money. What, would you rather drive the children around in Bert's old red van? That thing was ghastly."

Louisa sighed loudly and nodded, "Yes, I guess you are right, Martin. I don't want you to think I don't like this car; I love it. I am jut not used to something so nice."

Martin gave her a single nod, "Well, get used to it. We can get this vehicle if it's the one you like. I'm pleased we can at least agree on something that fits all of us."

Sadie started to fuss, and Louisa started to jostle her around. She looked to Martin, and almost at the same time, Eliza started to fuss as well.

"Both girls are probably in need of a new nappy and then a feeding. They've been delightful this morning after their nap over here to Truro," Louisa told him. Martin nodded in agreement.

"Yes, why don't you take care of the girls. We can use their push chair, and I will go inside and deal with the car." He looked to his watch, "We should have plenty of time to still get an early lunch and make it back to sports day."

"Yes, that sounds quite lovely," Louisa smiled. "Good."

It was another half hour later, and Martin was finishing up some of the paperwork. They would return to get the car later in the week.

"I assume the car will have been properly serviced, cleaned, and washed when we return?" Martin asked the man.

"Doc! Is that you? Of course, it's you!" Martin turned his head to see a woman with red hair flying toward him. He was seated, and suddenly, he was engulfed in a hug. "I can't believe it, seeing you here, Doc!"

"Ahh, Pauline," Martin said to her, trying to back up in his chair, but she was still hugging his neck tightly. He gestured to get away from her, and she finally released him and stood up, grinning down at him.

"How about that! First day on the new job, and I run into Doc Martin. Yes, what a surprise!" Pauline grinned.

"Err, ahh, Pauline," Martin grimaced and made a face toward the man at the desk. Pauline followed his gaze.

"Oh, sorry, I ahh, am interrupting. I used to work for Doc Martin, and well," she grinned again, "lovely to see him. I've just moved back, Doc, ahh, to Truro this time. I had to get out of the village, but you understand," she mumbled.

"Ahh, yes," Martin said, sitting up straight as he straightened his suit coat.

"I'll leave you to it, but Doc," she smiled brightly, "please stop by over there." Pauline indicated toward a wall. "I'm one of the office assistants."

"Right," Martin said with a nod and turned his attention back to the man to complete his sale. "Yes, let's finish this so I can get going."

Several minutes later, Martin found Louisa outside. She'd located a small bench in which to sit and feed the girls. She had Eliza in her arm with one bottle and had expertly managed to situate Sadie in the push chair and was feeding her with her other hand. Martin just shook his head in awe. It amazed him how easily she could feed the girls. He always had difficulty juggling both at the same time. He couldn't seem to get the hang of it, even though he'd done it plenty of times. Louisa looked toward him when she heard his footsteps and smiled.

"Well?" Louisa inquired.

Martin nodded, "We can pick it up later this week. I'm assuming by then you will have turned your old car over to Morwenna."

"Yes, I suppose, Martin," Louisa said with a small smile. "Bit sad to see it go, but I'm glad Morwenna will enjoy it. I guess we still have to wait and see if she and Al want the car."

Martin made a face and shook his head, "As commented, I'm about ready to pay them to take it."

"You really hate that car, don't you?" Louisa asked. "You didn't say so when I bought it. I mean, I knew you didn't particularly care for it, but I just assumed you were nervous about my driving."

"I hated that car the moment you told them you wanted to buy it. You didn't give me a chance to say anything, and by the time I could, you were set on it, declaring it was your money. I'm glad to see it go," he nodded again.

"Yes, it was a big purchase for me, but as I've grown in our marriage too, I realize I was maybe a bit selfish," she said in an almost whisper and looked down, "and maybe yes, a bit obsessed with-how did you put it-feminist point scoring."

"Hmm," he said with an affirmative nod. The day was going so well; he didn't want to argue. He gestured to the girls.

"What can I do here?" Martin asked. Louisa smiled brightly at his interest and offered up the daughter in her arms.

"So, Eliza is done with her bottle, but Miss Sadie here is taking her time. I think she was a bit jealous she didn't get to sit with Mum this time," Louisa said with a grin. Martin shook his head.

"No, she wouldn't have the cognitive ability for jealousy yet," he told Louisa as he pulled a cloth out of the bag to put Eliza on his shoulder. He started to pat her back. "Oh, rather interesting inside," he looked down to Louisa, and she glanced up at him with a questioning glance.

"Pauline is working here," he stated simply.

Louisa's eyes widened, and she smiled, "Pauline, as in your old receptionist?"

Martin gave her a very odd glance, "Do I know another?"

"Right, Martin," Louisa said through gritted teeth. "Of course, yes, Pauline. Well, that's lovely. I'd enjoy seeing her."

Martin frowned, "Do we have time for that?"

"Martin," Louisa said, standing now with Sadie in her arms, "she was your receptionist for a long time. She helped you with your blood issues by drawing the blood, even if she wasn't always the best at it," Louisa chuckled. "Yes, it would be lovely to see her. We still have time. Did you tell her about the girls?"

Martin gave her a horrified look, "No, why would I?"

Louisa huffed and rolled her eyes as she prodded Sadie to finish. She nodded to Martin, "Oh, I don't know, Martin. Maybe you were proud to show off your family, hmm? I suppose she doesn't even know we were married. She did leave your practice at a bit of a rough patch for us."

Martin sighed, "Which one?"

Louisa looked to him, surprised and started to chuckle, "That was a joke, Martin. Yes, very good, although, it wasn't funny at the time. Yes, let's go see Pauline."

They didn't make it more than a few steps before Pauline came flying outside of the building toward them.

"Doc, Miss Glasson! I heard you were leaving, Doc, and imagine my surprise to see you too, Miss Glasson."

Louisa smiled brightly at Pauline as she ran up to them. She stopped quickly, taking survey of things. She glance between them, and her surprised face gave her away. Louisa chuckled.

"Hello, Pauline, good to see you, and while you wouldn't know it, I haven't been Miss Glasson for several years now," Louisa explained, a large smile on her face.

"I can see things have greatly changed! Who?" Pauline nodded to Louisa and looked to Martin. Her eyes widened even more, "There's two of them!"

"Yes, medically speaking, that is what happens with twins," Martin said, now holding his daughter at his side. "Pauline," he nodded to her again.

"Ahh, Doc, with the charm," Pauline nudged him. "I can't believe you didn't tell me about this inside! You have children? I mean, I knew about the baby, you know, born in that pub," she chuckled.

Louisa jumped in, "Yes, James Henry," Louisa said with a nod. "He's at school, not such a baby anymore. These are our girls, Sadie," she nodded to the one she was holding, "and Eliza there with Martin."

"Shocked, that's what I am," Pauline shook her head. "My mum left the village a couple years ago now, ran off and married some local fisherman that she followed up the coast. I haven't heard the village gossip. I tried nursing for some time, but I never got the money to finish. I decided I was maybe too much of a free spirit to be locked down with just one profession. Now, I'm a big city girl here in Truro."

"Yes, well, I hope you have a proper GP," Martin nodded to her, and Louisa sighed.

"Honestly, Martin, it doesn't have to be about her medical care." She smiled at Pauline, "We are still in the village. Martin's been doing much better with his blood phobia. We are very happy with the children."

"Yes, well, I'd heard the doc had stayed after all, but Mum never did mention the two of you were married," Pauline told them.

"Bit complicated," Louisa grumbled and shrugged her shoulders. "We need a bigger car for me, which is why we are here today."

"Yes, right!" Pauline grinned. She turned to Martin, "Doc, I'm glad you stayed. Going to London wasn't right for you. I'm very happy you figured out things, the two of you. Are all of you living in the surgery? It was almost too small with the doc's bellowing presence."

Louisa laughed, and Martin frowned. Louisa nodded at her, "Yes, we are. It's getting a bit small."

"Ahh, Louisa, the cloth," Martin gestured to Louisa. He needed a new one. Eliza was drooling, and Pauline watched him, fascinated.

"Doc, you could barely stand kids coming into your surgery. I mean, I knew you were a dad with the baby and all, but to be honest, I expected you to be horribly awkward with children. It's a pleasant surprise, seeing you a dad."

"Yes," Martin said with a single nod at her.

Pauline grinned and leaned toward Louisa, speaking quietly, "Stimulating conversation with Doc, as usual."

"Louisa," Martin looked to his watch, "we must be going if we are to make James' sports day."

Louisa nodded, and Pauline grinned. She looked to Martin again, "You used to hate those days."

"Yes, ahh, well," he stammered.

Louisa, who was now gathering their things, looked up at Pauline, "It's maybe a bit different when it's your own child. Besides, the two of us had quite an epiphany a few years ago over a sports day."

Pauline wanted more information, but Martin shook his head, hoping to end the conversation. As they were getting ready to go, Pauline looked to Martin again.

"May I, Doc?" Pauline asked, holding out her hands, wanting to hold Eliza. Martin nodded to her, agreeing that his old secretary could greet his daughter.

"This is Eliza," he stated and handed her over.

"Hello, Eliza. I'm your Auntie Pauline."

"No, you're not," Martin said, and Louisa patted his arm.

"Your daddy is the best doc I know. He's also quite strict, so you come to me if he's too much for you. Sorry if you get his ears, but looks like you are in luck. You've got a great mum, and I'm glad you get to live in the village. Great place for kids. Miss it myself."

"Are you planning to return, Pauline?" Louisa asked, giving her a smile.

She shook her head, "No, it's one of those things. I lived my life there then. I'm glad to be here now. Al was never going to work out, and I just needed to start fresh."

"He's married now," Louisa informed her. Pauline smiled, and Louisa continued, "He married Martin's assistant, Morwenna."

Pauline chuckled, still holding Eliza and looked up to Martin, "See, Doc, you needed to hand around for Al. He had a thing for practice managers. I see he finally found one of yours to be quite lovely and just what he wanted. Staying there, well, it felt cursed to me. I'm glad I changed things for myself."

"You were my secretary, not the practice manager," he said with a sigh.

She punched his shoulder in jest, "Same old Doc. Well, here you go. I have to get back to work. Your girls are lovely. You'll have to bring James by when you get the car."

"Lovely to see you, Pauline," Louisa grinned. "I'm happy that you are living the life you want."

"Yes, same to you," she nodded. "Bye, err, ahh, Ellingham family."

They watched Pauline walk back to work, her bright, zany skirt still similar to what she'd worn working for him. Louisa sighed and looked up at Martin, "Lovely to see her. Seems like a lifetime ago, now. In a way, she's right. Things were cursed-maybe for her, but for us too. Glad we broke that."

"Louisa, you know curses aren't real," Martin frowned. The two walked back to the car, Martin pushing the push chair with one of the girls, and Louisa walking alongside with the other in her arms.

"Yes, Martin, just a figure of speech," she sighed. "Whatever it is, glad the curse," she enunciated and eyed him, "is broken. I love my dear family, you, James, Sadie, and Eliza."

"Yes," he said with a single, stiff nod. After they had loaded the car, he slid in and turned toward her.

"I do love you," he told her, and she smiled brightly.

"Thank you, and I do love hearing that. See, curse is broken," she winked. "I've finally got you admitting that to me on a regular basis."