Martin couldn't help but sit up perfectly straight in his chair, not that he wasn't already doing so, but if possible, his posture stiffened when he spotted, well, HIM. Martin should have known that HE would be at the conference too, even in his retired state. The man just could not get enough of the attention, the accolades, and the idea that he was worshiped by all. Disgusting. Martin scowled again, this scowl hidden by the coffee cup he held to his mouth. He was just fine in the corner, away from HIM.
It was bad enough that his father had ruined his dinner with Louisa. That evening had been a disaster, not that it was Louisa's fault, not at all. She'd been rather lovely. She'd looked beautiful, and he had been looking forward to dining with her in a restaurant he had enjoyed frequenting when he'd lived in London before. It never occurred to him that his father, rather, his parents would also be in the area and dining there that particular evening. As Martin studied his father across the room, jumping from handshake to handshake, he thought about the words that had been hurled at him.
"Joke is on you. We came out of it with a holiday flat in Portugal and a proper Kensington address here," his mind replayed the comments from his horrid mother. Yes, he should have realized all of that was a ruse, a way to get him to hand over his flat. He should have just sold the bloody flat, but at the time, giving it to his father was easier than having it sold and giving him the cash. The man wanted a flat, obviously, as Martin rolled his eyes thinking about it. Two flats now. Ridiculous. His parents were never interested in anything other than their fame, fortune, and status. Martin had never been a concern. Well, actually, he was that, a concern. He'd never been a kind thought to them, just a bother, a burden. Martin did not want that for his child, his own son, and if was learning anything about relationships in his studies, it was that he was going to do a better job in all areas than his parents had done with him. Sadly, that would not be hard.
It was easy for Martin to acknowledge that his parents had provided the best in education. Alas, he was beginning to realize that the best in education did not take the place of love. The only people who had loved him had been his Auntie Joan and Uncle Phi, Ruth too, he had to suppose, but he did not see her a great deal. Joan and Phil had been his world, and his dreadful parents had even made sure to ruin that happiness for him. No, he did not have an interest in greeting his father as the rest of the conference attendees seemed to want to do. No, he would sit here and sip on his coffee. Besides, he needed it; his stomach was in knots. His blood phobia was not under control.
Martin had spent the entirety of the morning staring at slide after slide on the big projection screen of different surgical procedures. He'd sat at the back of the room, leaving way for a quick escape should he need one to the lavatory. He had-three times. One might question why he continued to torture himself, but he was determined to conquer his fear and return to surgery. He NEEDED to do that, to get back to London. As he'd previously discussed now with Joan and Louisa to an extent, he could not and would not return to London as a GP; it was beneath him, as already leaving London and taking a GP position as he had made him the laughingstock of the medical field. Returning to London was only a possibility if he could reclaim some of his surgical dignity; right now, he wasn't sure he could. Martin sighed again and put his coffee cup down on the table. He was just so bloody frustrated. This phobia shouldn't be the thing in his life he couldn't conquer. He'd excelled at everything, even in spite of his terrible, loveless parents, and now, to only be struck down with this phobia. Well, he just couldn't stand the idea.
Of course, if people were laughing about his phobia here in London, those in Portwenn would certainly be laughing if they had any idea just what their doc had done, how he'd gotten their beloved Miss Glasson pregnant. His feelings on that were also still very mixed. He had long ago realized he loved Louisa and was wrong to let her go, and he'd come to London to tell her just that. It was after that he'd learned about the result of their first engagement excitement that yes, if the villagers knew about themselves, would have a grand old laugh. He could just hear the comments now, the people yelling he was a tosser for not marrying Louisa, even though the decision at the time had been mutual, and oh, the girls. He groaned slightly as he thought about the horrid comments the laughing girls would have for him if they got wind that the doc who preached abstinence and proper contractive use had indeed broken all of his own instruction.
"Martin," he heard and turned in his seat, knowing that lovely voice and with his eyes fixated on hers, gave Louisa a small nod. She'd found him, just where he'd said he would be, near the entrance to the conference hall, waiting for her. It was now lunchtime, and she had asked him if they could have lunch together today, his first day of the conference, or if he would be busy with others for lunch.
"I was thinking that it might be nice to have lunch, something I can even bring you," she offered. "We never really did eat dinner after well," she paused and bit her lip, her eyes slowly looking up to meet his, "after that encounter. I know this morning might be difficult with your blood issues, and since I'm off school and you are in town, I just thought that lunch-"
"Yes," he had cut her off and gave a quick nod. "That should be ahh, good," he glanced at her. He could feel his face turning red, and while admitting he did want to have lunch with her was not something that should be embarrassing, he found himself to be just that, slightly embarrassed.
"Well, good," she grinned, reaching over the new kitchen table to squeeze his hand. His eyes locked on their joined hands there, and before he could even think more about it, Louisa withdrew her hand, almost sensing she was making him uncomfortable. "I can bring us some lunch. Would that be alright with you? The other option is to go and get lunch nearby."
"Ahh, the local restaurants will be busy with conference attendees," Martin explained. Louisa smiled at him and nodded.
"I'll pick up lunch for us on the way. Just let me know where to meet you," she grinned.
Now, Martin took one quick glance across the room to make sure his father was occupied. While Martin had no interest in talking to him, his father was the type to still believe it enjoyable to chat up Martin, or really, to chastise him in his condescending way. Martin wanted to stay away from that and keep Louisa away from the roaming eyes of his father.
"I trust you didn't have trouble finding me," he said with a quick nod as he stood at his table, pushed in his chair, and turned his attention to Louisa. His eyes were drawn to her middle, where his son seemed to be growing more and more each day. He always noticed the change when he would arrive for a visit, but even after now being here just a few days, he was noticing the changes in her body almost daily. Today, she had on a dark plum dress with a high empire waist. The color was lovely on her, and Martin though she looked radiant even when she'd told him earlier that her back was hurting, her feet were sore, and she was having more heartburn each day. He reached for the bag she had on her arm.
"Thank you, Martin," she said with a quick pat of his arm. "That has our lunch, so be gentle," she nodded to the bag. He grunted slightly, and then, he gestured toward the side door where the two could plan their escape for lunch. "How is the conference? Your blood?" Louisa asked, gesturing to him as they walked side by side. He leaned his head down toward her to hear her, as the room was rather loud.
"Err," he gave a quick nod toward the other side of the room. "I don't see him for years and now twice in less than 24 hours."
"Oh dear," Louisa's eyes widened as she glanced over to try and spot his father. She looked back to Martin and frowned, "I suppose you didn't expect him here, hmm? He's retired. Why is he here?"
Martin offered a small shrug as they stepped outside, and he looked to Louisa, "For him, it is rather unlikely to be about the study of medicine or the advances in medicine, but rather about the notoriety. He is almost famous in the field, is famous," he corrected himself. "He craves the attention."
She nodded as she listened, finally looping her arm through his, and she smiled up at him, "Well, that is one thing that makes you a remarkable man, Martin. You are quite the opposite. You crave the anonymity. You do what is best for your patients, and while that is often something quite remarkable, you never want the accolades." She paused her steps, which had Martin do the same, and outside there, with people around, she leaned up and kissed his cheek. "It's one of the many things I love about you, Martin, your way with your patients."
"Yes, err, thank you," he said with a quick nod, and she started to move again before Martin felt uncomfortable. Her hand was now at her side, and Martin glanced to her and clasped it, a hint of a smile appearing on his face as they now walked hand in hand.
"Oh, there's a bench," she gestured. "This looks lovely for lunch, hmm, Martin?"
"Yes, fine," he nodded. The two spent the next several minutes unpacking their food and getting situated. Louisa had stopped by a bakery and picked up two ham sandwiches since things were still not unpacked at the new flat. After the run in at dinner the night before, the two had gone home and made tea, neither one talking much about dinner.
"So, has he said more to you?" Louisa broke the ice and looked to Martin, inquiring about his father. He sipped on the bottled water she'd brought, and when he put it down, he looked over to her.
"No, I'm not sure he's noticed I am there. I've noticed, but I've also spent the morning seated in the back, ready in case I need to dash off," he explained. Louisa nodded.
She met his gaze, "And, have you," she gestured, "have you had to dash off?"
Martin looked down to the ground and then away, off toward another direction of the park area. He sighed quietly, and when he turned his attention back to Louisa, he found her there, staring at him intently, waiting. Her hand was caressing the side of her stomach, and he nodded, not wanting to meet her gaze.
"Three times already, yes. I just don't understand it, Louisa," he said quietly. She grasped his hand in hers, and she nudged at him, finally getting him to look at her. She offered a sympathetic smile.
"I'm sure if it can be done, Martin, you will conquer it. You've been there for several hours. Maybe it will get better, hmm?"
"I, I," he shook his head and put his sandwich down on his napkin, "I don't know," he admitted. "It does have to improve; there is no other way."
The two were quiet for a moment, and Louisa squeezed his hand, still holding it. Martin looked to their joined hands, and Louisa suddenly shifted, almost jumped as she winched and removed her hand from his to rub her side.
"Louisa, are you in pain?" Martin asked, now wary of anything wrong with her.
She shook her head and rubbed at her side, "No, Martin, nothing unusual. The baby is just kicking. That one, well," she chuckled, "took my breath away. I suppose the baby likes my sandwich." She continued to chuckle and looked to Martin. Whether it was the moment, Louisa herself, or maybe even Martin feeling like he could not grasp control of anything, took control of the moment, and he leaned in to kiss her sweetly. She put her hand on his face, and she ran her thumb on his cheek before he pulled back, almost nervous.
"I apologize," he said quietly, clearing his throat as he grabbed his bottled water to take a swig. Louisa chuckled and reached to squeeze his hand again.
"Martin, whatever for? You are allowed to kiss me. We've done nothing wrong."
He looked over to her almost with the expression of a lost puppy, "I let my emotions get out of control."
Louisa sighed and gave him a small, but encouraging smile, "Martin, that is hardly letting your emotions get out of control. That is perfectly normal for a man to want to kiss a woman he loves. I do love you," she said with a nod.
"Yes, yes," he nodded back to her. "I, ah-"
"Yes, I know," she said with a small smile. "You're in love with me too, and you have said it. I realize you have a lot of emotions swirling around right now, but thank you, for the kiss, I mean," she grinned. "You made a lady feel desirable when I don't feel at all." She patted her side again and smiled at him. "Now," she nodded to her stomach, "this might be considered letting our emotions get out of control, but-" she paused and saw his eyes widen, and while she was only trying to tease him, she realized he didn't see it that way. She quickly leaned over and kissed his cheek, quietly speaking to him, "While I am currently uncomfortable, I am very glad to be carrying your child and very happy we let our emotions get out of control. Our baby is going to be such a blessing, already is."
Martin grunted, his eyes still looking at hers. He opened his mouth, closed it, and then, he spoke, "I still find it difficult trying to imagine being a father to him."
Louisa smiled brightly and patted his hand, "Ahh, so you think it will be a boy, hmm? You've not said even when I've asked."
Martin, realizing the slip of his tongue when he'd been so careful not to elude to the gender of the baby, tried to mask his expression, tried to not panic at the words he'd uttered. Louisa, knowing him and his expressions as she did, widened her eyes at him.
"Martin, is it a boy? Do you know the gender?" Louisa asked in an inquisitive, not a demanding tone.
Martin dropped his head, but he could feel Louisa looking at him. He glanced back to her, and he frowned, "Louisa, I will not tell you a lie, so yes," he said with a long sigh. "I could see it on the ultrasound and noticed it before you ever said anything about it being a surprise. I am sorry; I have tried to not speak about it, but I am a doctor. It was hard not to notice. I hope you can forgive me." Martin mumbled through that, and when he looked up finally to Louisa, he saw her beaming. She had a stray tear running down the side of her face, but she was smiling.
"It's really a boy?" Louisa asked, quickly. Martin nodded, and she threw her arms around him. "Martin, I had no idea you were in such agony. I could hear it in your voice just now as you told me. I am the one who is sorry, you dear man. I am sorry I didn't think about you being able to tell. Martin, oh, I wish you had told me sooner only so you weren't carrying this secret." She pulled back slightly, their heads now touching, and she smiled at him. "It's really a boy?"
"Well, yes, Louisa. You know that we look for-"
Louisa leaned in and kissed him, halting further comments. When she finished, Martin grunted slightly, but he looked at her. She was still smiling, and there was still another tear.
"You are crying," he stated with a question in his voice. She shook her head.
"Happy tears, Martin, happy. I truly did not care if it was a boy or a girl, but I'm delighted it's a little boy, just so happy. Have you told anyone? Oh, Martin, I am sorry about you having to keep the secret."
Louisa sat back now next to him, and she tried to catch his gaze again. He nodded to her.
"Joan and Chris," he told her. "Who else would I tell?"
Louisa burst out laughing and nodded, "Yes, that is true, Martin. It's not as if you would tell the village. Oh, we would be the gossip for the next year if they found out."
"Yes," he nodded. He gestured to her sandwich. "We should both finish our lunch. I need the energy because I couldn't keep breakfast down, and you need the energy for our son."
Louisa beamed again, and she leaned over to kiss his cheek, "Our son, Martin. Yes, and oh," she stomped her feet in excitement, "I can look at boy things all afternoon."
Martin frowned slightly, "Yes, but the flat-"
"Right, Martin," she laughed. "The flat is still a mess. Yes, I will work on that first."
The two ate and talked for the next several minutes, but they were interrupted once again as they were finishing their meal.
"Well, well, I should have expected you here, but I must say that the real surprise is this beautiful wife of yours. Last night, you were rude to your mother especially, but you did not give us the chance to properly greet her."
Louisa and Martin both turned their attention to Christopher as he approached, a bag in his hand. It appeared he had gone to get himself a bite to eat, and now, for whatever reason, their paths were crossing again. Martin stiffened, and Louisa put her hand on his forearm.
"This isn't the first conference we have both been in attendance," Martin stated, looking his father in the eye. "As for Louisa and myself, there is nothing more to say."
"Nothing to say!" Christopher bellowed and laughed. He shook his head and made eye contact with Louisa who had moved closer to Martin and had put her free hand on her stomach, almost as a protection. Neither chose to address his incorrectly addressing her as his wife, just as neither had the night before. Louisa had not prodded Martin about his parents; he would tell her when he was ready, but they were engaged, and Martin had no intention of clarifying things with his father. "Oh, you are a daft one, my son. You marry this beauty, are having a child-my grandchild, and not a word to your mother or me. Well, you don't know the rules of high society London."
"Honestly, I just don't care," Martin offered with a straight face to his father. "My life with Louisa is none of your concern, and in fact, your life with Mother, which was my concern, you saw fit to make sure never was my concern. You always did what suited you best, leaving me, your only son on his own. You made it perfectly clear you wanted nothing to do with my life. Well," he waved him off, "go on. This is my life, my life alone with Louisa, and we will not be including you in it."
Christopher just shook his head, and he looked to Martin, "You mother and I truly cannot believe you are man enough to father a child."
"Excuse me!" Louisa jumped in. She stood as quickly as she could, which had Martin stand as well. "You will show Martin some respect. It's obviously too much to ask that you show him love, but do not stand there and insult him. How we live our lives and raise our son will not be your concern," she said with a quick nod. Her hair went flying as she did, her nod being more intentional than she'd planned.
Christopher's eyes widened and went to Louisa's stomach, "A son, hmm?" He started to laugh. "Martin, I hope the poor lad is more like his grandfather than his father," he chuckled. "A son," he nodded. "I will say well done-didn't think you could even get that right. You've quite surprised me, at least, a beauty like Louisa is more my style, and then, well, a boy. Very surprising."
"Beg your pardon!" Louisa exclaimed. Martin gently touched her arm, and his eyes met hers. He gave her a small shake of the head and turned to his father.
"It is time for you to go, to leave us here. I had to sit and watch you chum it up with your old gang of miserable surgeons," he said, now almost spitting out his words. "You think I'm jealous. No, nothing of the sort. We both know that my surgical skills far surpass yours, which is why you always seem fit to tear into me. My son, our son," he amended with a glance to Louisa, "will be welcome and loved. He will not be cast out to boarding school at the first chance. He will be encouraged to be an even better surgeon than I am, if that is what he chooses to do. Now, please go. Running into you once was bad, twice was horrid, and a third encounter would be dreadful. "You have so many friends? Go find any of them to beat on your chest and elevate your accolades. We don't want to hear anything of the sort."
Christopher glanced between the two, and he gave Martin a nod before he left, "Say, Martin, just what hospital are you practicing surgery these days? I inquired a little inside, and well, funny thing," he winked, "no one has you employed with them."
"Christopher is it, yes?" Louisa stepped toward him, her hand still on Martin's arm. She had a sparkle in it, "Oh, and before you say more, yes, I'll call you Christopher if I please. I'm not one of your patients, and sadly, it seems we are family," she said with a roll of the eyes and a huff. "Your attitude towards yourself does nothing to impress me. Anyone as arrogant as you is not welcome around my family or me. So, as much as it pains me, because it does to say this to anyone who should be part of our family, please stay out of our way and leave us alone. It's bad enough we all live in the same general area within Kensington. Just leave us alone. Goodbye."
Christopher's eyes rose, and he eyed Martin, "Ahh, so you bought another flat, or maybe you found one to let, hmm? They are pricey, those posh flats. Well, you should know," he winked. "Yes, well, good of you to let a flat."
"Seems the irony is on you," Martin said quietly. Both turned to him, and he nodded toward his father, "You claim I'm worthless and was a problem as a child, yet, all you want is what I have. We do own a second flat in Kensington," he said, looking right at his father. "You just had to have my first one. Now, for my family," he pointed to him, "keep your wandering eyes off Louisa, and stay away from your sisters. Louisa, Joan, Ruth-they are my family."
"Oh, please," he waved with a chuckle. "You dodged my question, which answers it for me. Yes, we will certainly see you around, I suppose," he grinned. "Oh, that is, when we aren't on holiday in Portugal. As for my sisters," he frowned, "I've gotten what I need from them, which wasn't much growing up. Now, I don't want to miss the conference. Surgeons like myself, we, find these things useful."
Martin and Louisa stood there, rigid, as he walked away. Martin felt Louisa slip her hand into his, and when he was finally out of sight, Louisa sighed loudly and put her arm around Martin. He flinched slightly, but he did look at her.
"Oh, Martin, I really had no idea they were so dreadful. I know it was a shock to run into them last night, today too, even," she said with a nod. "Please, though," she turned to him and looked into his eyes, his eyes that were trying not to convey the sadness he felt, "please talk to me about them. I get a small glimpse of how horrid your life has been with them, but please, not now, but maybe tonight or sometime this week, I do want to know. You are a good man, a wonderfully good man, and you are loved." She said that locking eyes with him, and he finally dropped his head. She touched his chin with her finger and made eye contact again.
"Louisa, as you can see, there isn't much more to say. My parents do not care to be part of my life and have never been ones to show love."
"Martin," Louisa said, pointing toward where his dad had walked away, "that wasn't love at all! That was the opposite, outright hatred. I can't stand to see you have to deal with him, so I beg you again, please, just talk to me, open up about anything, please?"
He briefly glanced at her, and then down to the ground. As he stared at his feet, he nodded, giving her the answer she wanted. Martin finally looked at her, and he moved his hand to rub her cheek.
"As you can see, I've not had the best teacher, I mean in my parents," he fumbled his words and started to blush, "but I do love you, Louisa. I know you like to hear that, and I am trying to learn ahh, ahh, emm, what you want or need. I don't need them in my life, and I don't want them to be part of our family."
"Yes, Martin, I see that," she frowned. "You do have Joan and Ruth, and they love you too."
"Yes," he nodded again, "although, I presume not in the way as you do."
Louisa chuckled, and she grinned at Martin, "No, I should hope not, that your aunts love you the same way as I do. That was good, Martin."
"Oh, err, I wasn't making a joke. Did I?" Martin looked confused.
Louisa leaned up and kissed his cheek. Martin looked away, and she patted his chest. When she did that, he looked back at her.
"I'm also a very good teacher, and I'm happy to teach you what I can," she winked at him. He looked at her, finally understanding her, and he looked down.
"Yes, err, yes," he said. They both grew quiet.
"Well, this has been a very eventful lunch. I find out about our wonderful baby boy as well as more about your horrid father. I'd say I've had quite my share of Ellinghams this afternoon. I'll walk you back to the conference and then leave if that is okay, Martin?"
"Ahh, yes," he said quietly. "My goal for the afternoon is to not lose my lunch. Yours?"
"Yes, well, I've had that same goal many times in the last few months," she chuckled. "I think your goal should be to avoid your father as well, hmm?"
"I'm sorry about him," Martin blurted out. He gestured with his hand and continued, "He was rude to you; he's rude to most women. He flirts with almost anything that moves."
"Oh, well, thanks for that, Martin," Louisa said a bit crisply. "Here, I thought he actually found me attractive."
"He does," Martin told her. "I mean, he is always flirting, and yes, he would continue to try and woo you because he does find you very attractive, which I find quite disturbing."
Louisa stopped walking at that, and she glared at Martin. He stopped too, trying to figure out what was wrong. She crossed her arms.
"Disturbing? I'm not a fan of your father, Martin, but it's disturbing a man finds me attractive?"
Martin ran over his words in his head, and he gestured with his hands, "No! I didn't mean you are repulsive or anything of the sort. It's disturbing a man of his age would flirt with his son's wife."
She grinned, "You called me your wife, several times with your father. I quite like it."
He dropped his head, embarrassed, but he quietly said, "Ye, I did not see the point in correcting him. It would have been just another area for him to poke."
"I understand, Martin, and I quite liked hearing it," she smiled.
Louisa looped her hand through his arm and leaned her head toward him, "Sounds like I have the much better afternoon. I can look at baby boy things and think about our wedding. You have to stare at blood and your father, and know that when I say this, just how much I hate blood, that staring at your father sounds worse. Yes, I will have the better afternoon."
"The flat, Louisa-" Martin reminded her.
She rolled her eyes and looked up at him, "Right, Martin," she sighed. "Right, the flat. I'll work on unpacking things at the flat. Yes, Martin."
