"Martin, are you awake?" Louisa whispered loudly the next weekend as Martin was visiting London for the weekend.
He grumbled and while lying on his back with his hands folded over his chest, opened his eyes, "I've never understood that. What is the purpose of that question? If the person is asleep, it only wakes them to answer."
"I'm sorry, Martin," Louisa said sweetly, as she put her hand over his and squeezed it. "I suppose I would have tried to roll toward you to guy you, but I have a rather large mound in the way that isn't allowing me much room to move."
Martin raised an eyebrow and turned his head slightly toward Louisa,"Is it the baby? Are you alright?" He was now looking at her, her warm eyes, her dark hair, and he shifted himself so that he was now on his side facing her.
"Yes, I'm fine, Martin. It's not the baby. I was just lying here, enjoying this, you here with me, and I was thinking that this will be one of the only days we ever have like this."
Martin frowned and gave her a puzzled look, "What do you mean? As soon as I am able to move to London, we will have days like this all the time."
Louisa sighed and tried to give him a small smile, "Right, Martin. I only meant that the baby will be coming soon, and that will change things. We've not had much time together alone, and well," she said reaching to squeeze his arm, "it won't be like this much longer. Soon, we'll have a little boy with us who requires all of our attention. We will not have these lazy mornings, not that I feel much like just staying like this. Sorry, Martin," she shifted again and huffed as she did, "quite uncomfortable."
"Oh, yes, right," he said with a nod, trying to understand. He pursed his lips, "I suppose you are right." Quickly, he moved and got up out of bed, reaching for his dressing gown. Louisa looked up to him, a question on her face.
"Martin, where are you going?"
"I'll make you some tea, yes? Would you like some tea? You said it was nice just relaxing here, so I'll bring you some tea and breakfast," he told her.
Louisa smiled brightly, "You don't have to do that, but thank you, Martin. You are quite charming when you want to be."
He paused and frowned, looking at her, "What's that supposed to mean?"
Louisa smiled brightly at him as she sat up, her large stomach in the way. She rolled her eyes and chuckled, "Only, dear husband, that you are not exactly as the villagers would call, charming. Sadly, that would be at the bottom of their list of names for you. You can be quite charming, just," she nodded at him, "with the right person and right situation."
He titled his head and frowned. She could see he was taking in what she'd said. He grunted slightly before giving her a nod and then turning to leave the room.
"I shall return," he told her. "Tea and-"
"Oh, one of those muffins would be lovely, Martin. I picked up those yesterday for us for the weekend. Thank you," she called out to him.
Martin started the tea and began rummaging around in the kitchen. He was very pleased with this flat; it was even nicer than the one he'd turned over to his horrible parents. This morning, though, it was stuffy downstairs. He could feel the air was a bit humid, more than usual for London. The flat just felt, well, warm. He soon opened the back patio door to let some fresh air in and checked on the tea again. It was almost ready. Martin decided to see if his paper had been delivered and walked to the front door. While he was not living here full time, Martin enjoyed reading the morning paper, a rather old-fashioned habit, but one that he wished to continue. He'd subscribed to it, even knowing that he was not in London full-time. Louisa rather enjoyed it, and well, on days like today when he was here at his own home, he did like reading it.
Martin found the paper at his doorstep and stood up, his dressing gown tied, and he looked at the front page of the paper while enjoying the early morning air. It was rather warm, but it was cooler outside than inside the flat. He glanced about before stepping inside and quietly cursed to himself as he glanced down.
"What are you doing here?" Martin blurted out as he stood there, arms at his sides.
"Well, I'm on a walk. This is your flat?" Martin's mother said, scoffing at him as she gestured. He crossed his arms and eyed her.
"I'm assuming you know that as you can't just happen to be walking by my flat as I step out to get the morning paper," he said bluntly.
"Heavens no!" Margaret said as she stood at the bottom of his stairs now, crossing her own arms. The mother and son eyed each other, and she gestured again. "I have many better things to do rather than to keep up with whatever dingy flat you might have purchased."
Martin, trying to keep his cool, clenched his fists and pointed to his home, "This flat is larger and much grander than my old one. It has a lovely garden area, and as you know, the one you now occupy does not. Now, I have better ways to use my day than to stand here and speak to you. Good day," Martin said with a nod. He turned toward the door again, but not quickly enough.
"Martin, is everything alright?" Louisa asked, opening the door. As she did, she surveyed the scene, and her eyes narrowed at Margaret.
"Well, looks like you've enjoyed the pastries and sweets during this pregnancy," Margaret said, raising her eyebrows. "Pity, dear, that, as one's body never bounces back, not the same, and certainly not with excess weight." She gave Louisa a look, and Martin's head snapped around.
"You will not speak to her that way!" Martin hissed at his mother. Louisa patted his arm.
"Such a shame this child will not know his grandparents," Louisa said with a fake smile as she patted her stomach. "Well, I shall say, only to know of them as cold, calculating, and manipulative people. Deceptive too," she added, with a nod and a glance to Martin.
"I'll finish our tea," she said, squeezing his arm as she met his gaze. He nodded to her and turned back to his mother.
"I'll ask you to not stop by here again," he said firmly, giving her a single nod. He turned to enter the flat again.
"What hospital are you with now, Martin? You didn't mention the other night, and well, your father has inquired. No one seems to know," she said with her own fake smile. Martin glanced back at her, and without even a thought, he answered.
"Shocking, really, isn't it? You told me I would not amount to anything successful, yet, here you are, standing in front of my posh London flat. You're rude to my wife and criticize our unborn child. My profession has never been good enough, even though I outperformed Dad constantly. Of course," he nodded as he stepped to the door, "when one is miserable, there is no hope. Stay away from my wife. Good day." With that, Martin stepped inside, closed the door, and he took a deep breath. He could see Louisa just down the hall in the kitchen waiting for him.
"I'm sorry, Martin," she said, frowning as she waddled toward him. "I don't understand how a woman can be so cruel, especially to her own son. I will never, ever be like that. I'm just sorry that even I seem to be a disappointment to her."
Martin grunted again, and Louisa reached out to squeeze his hand. As she did, he met her gaze, "Louisa, the fact that my mother seems so intent on being rude to you, especially you, tells me she sees you as a great threat. With that," he put his hand up to cup her face, "I know that you are exactly the right person for me, in my life. I apologize for her words, but she seems to only lash out when greatly threatened. Let's not dwell on her, that, that," he gestured waving his free hand, "incident. I'm here for a weekend, and we will enjoy it to the fullest. Now, let's discuss returning to our room. I do like the idea of your lazy morning, yes? Things here are about to change, and I think before they do, we should discuss a name for this child who will be changing our lives forever."
