Martin looked out at the fall colors as the train made its way back to Cornwall. It was now just past mid-October, and he'd managed to make two trips in the last month to London. He was tired, bone tired, but he was hopeful that things were progressing on the London front. He'd only managed to get away for a long weekend, and I'd been in talks with two hospitals in London, but so far, nothing had materialized. The blood phobia wasn't gone, but he wanted to believe he was getting better at controlling it. He had told Louisa that and did believe it; he wasn't throwing up in the middle of surgeries, but he also wasn't the one conducting them. He'd been observing surgeries on both his last trips to London, which did cut into his family time, but in the end, if it got him back, it was worth it.
Chris was meeting him at the train station. The two were going to catch up over dinner and discuss options. It was now Monday evening; Martin had left Louisa early that morning to observe a surgery before taking the train home. Chris was aware of everything, and both men were anxious to talk. Martin knew his friend was a little anxious to know of Martin's plans. Martin was too. Right now, though, he didn't have timeline on anything.
As the train pulled into the station, Martin jerked his head forward, unaware he'd dozed off. James was sleeping better, longer spurts, and while he was not sleeping through the night, at now just over three months old, Martin was pleased with his longer stretches of sleep. He had seen the exhaustion on Louisa's face, and while he thought about commenting how she was simply home with James all day and did not have work at the moment, he'd not said anything. Apparently, just offering to help had won him big points with Louisa. Even as he thought about their time together as the train stopped, Martin found himself with a small smile on his face. Yes, Louisa had been extremely grateful for Martin's help with James and feeding him late at night so she could get some sleep. He'd also not told her she looked tired, and apparently, that had been the right thing to do. He was learning, albeit slowly.
"Ahh, Chris," Martin said just a few minutes later as he stepped off the train. His old friend was there, bundled up. The late afternoon air definitely had a chill to it; Chris even had on driving gloves.
"Martin," Chris smiled, extending his hand. "Good to see you. It's been awhile since we've had a chance to catch up. Now, let's get to the car. A bit of a nip in the air, yes?"
"Ahh, yes," Martin said, pulling his coat closed. It was cold, very cold for the end of October. "I believe it's colder here with the sea air than it was in London."
"Usually the case," Chris added as they managed to weave through the crowd of people. Chris turned his head back to Martin, "So, I have to ask-have you secured a job?"
Martin frowned, and by now, the two were walking side by side, Chris' car a short distance away, "No, nothing yet. Hospitals seem reluctant to believe I can handle my phobia."
Chris nodded, not saying more until they were in the car. Several moments later, after storing Martin's bag, they were off. Chris gestured as he drove.
"Tell me about Louisa and this strapping lad of yours," he flashed a grin. He started to chuckle too, "I never did see you as the fatherly type, and I must say the fact that you have this hidden life in London, well, Mart, it does surprise me. You hear of people have second families, and it's always the quiet ones."
Martin turned slightly towards him, completely horrified, "I don't have a second family! To have a second family, I'd have to have a first. Louisa and James are my first and only family."
"Calm down," Chris chuckled. "I'm well aware. I'm just shocked you've managed to keep it from your little village. They are persistent people. To think of how far you've come since I ran into you and Louisa after Christmas in London at breakfast. My oh my. Is Louisa well?"
"Yes," he nodded, a bit of a frown to his face. "She is tired, and while I try to understand, she's simply home with James all day. I try to understand, but at the same time, you and I work long hours. She looks tired."
Chris flinched as he glanced to his old friend, "Did you tell her that? Word of advice, Mart-wives don't like to be told they are tired, fat, look old, look, well, anything other than beautiful, even if that's exactly what you are thinking."
"I did not comment, and she did seem quite pleased I was willing to stay up late to feed James. I'm tired, too, but I didn't comment on it."
"Yes, well," Chris said, shaking his head from side to side, "take it from someone who has been through this with a few kids. Children are exhausting, especially newborns and infants. Louisa has been through a great deal. Pregnancy and childbirth does change you, and I'm sure she's just trying to readjust to her life now. You said she's taken a term off from school?"
"Yes," Martin nodded, a sigh to his voice. "I don't know what she thought she'd be able to handle considering the idea of working right now. She won't admit it, but I'm sure the idea of working with how exhausted she is has to be overwhelming. No, I'm glad she is at home, and I'd be fine if she decided not to return to work."
"Did you tell her that?" Chris flinched again.
"In a roundabout way," Martin told him. He glanced to his friend, "I might be rather dense with women, but I am trying to learn. I read a lot, and while social cues are not my thing, I have found that with Louisa, it's best to keep my mouth closed most of the time."
"Good man, Mart," Chris smiled, chuckled, and patted Martin's arm. The two settled into a comfortable silence as they drove. Martin cleared his throat, and that had Chris turn again toward him.
"Let's see the pictures," he gestured to Martin. "Come on, now, I'm sure you have some on your phone. You watched my kids grow up, and I'm not about to miss out on this son of yours. Let's see him."
Martin sighed and rolled his eyes, knowing this ritual of showing off one's child was expected, but he was almost embarrassed by it. He just didn't know what to really say. It wasn't like James was doing a whole lot right now. Sure, he was lifting his head well and starting to roll over, but that was about it. He was tracking better with his eyes, but he was just over three months old now, and his was right on target with his milestones. He humored his friend and fumbled in his pocket for his phone. As he did, it started to ring.
"Speak of the devil," he muttered, as he pulled out his phone. He glanced to the phone and then gestured to Chris to explain, "Louisa, err, I forgot that she asked me to let her know when I arrived at the station."
"Talk to your wife," Chris waved. "Believe me, I understand that."
"Louisa," Martin answered as he looked outside of the car. The rolling countryside did look like fall with the orange and brown colors taking over where the landscape had been a brilliant green throughout the summer. "I did arrive," he said quickly.
"Oh, good, Martin, that's good," she said, and he pinched the bridge of his nose as he tried to place her tone.
"Is everything alright? Is James alright?" Martin asked.
"Yes, yes, he's fine; we are fine, ahh, sort of," Louisa said cryptically. Martin shifted in his seat, and that had the attention of Chris who glanced to Martin. Martin focused on his call.
"I don't understand," Martin told her. "You know I don't do well trying to guess things, Louisa."
"Right," she said with a slight sigh. "Well, Martin, the thing is," she paused and he waited. The silence was almost uncomfortable, but Martin wasn't one to jump in to speak. Finally, he heard her take a deep breath, "The thing is Martin, that as I told you I've been so very tired."
"Yes," Martin nodded. "I am trying to understand that."
"I do appreciate it," Louisa said. "I didn't mention to you, but I decided to see my doctor here about it. I've told you that I need you to not always act like the doctor with me, but as my husband."
Martin's eyes started darting around now, and his sense of danger heightened, "Louisa, are you ill? What's wrong?"
"I can't believe I'm saying this, Martin, but it looks like I'm pregnant again," Louisa admitted. The silence hung there as he tried to digest what she'd said.
"You're what?" Martin asked. He caught Chris trying to get a nod or something from him, but he was too focused on the call.
"Yes, well, Doctor Ellingham, as we discussed, breastfeeding and all is a decent way to prevent things, but as you and well, even I know, it's not 100%. You and I just continue to beat the odds with fertility, Martin. The doctor called it Irish Twins, which is a real thing," she sighed. "I'm due roundabouts June 18, which as you know is just about three weeks before James will turn one."
"You're pregnant!" Martin exclaimed, and Chris hissed as he heard the bombshell news. Martin turned toward Chris, his eyes widened, and he started to stammer.
"How, I mean, are you sure?" Martin asked.
"Yes, very sure now, although, I really had no idea. Martin, I did just think I was tired, maybe something from having James, and I wanted to see if the doctor had any suggestions about ways to improve my stamina. As we got to talking, he started asking me a few things before he paused and looked me in the eye, telling me he wanted me to take a pregnancy test. Martin, I about died there, so mortified. I told him it wasn't possible, which he assured me, after telling him that yes, you and I have ahh, well, gotten things back to normal, that even with a new mum, it was quite possible. A few minutes later, I had my answer. He even did one of those ultrasound things, which he couldn't see much, but yes, Martin, you are going to be a father again, in June, just shortly before your son turns one."
Martin slumped back into the seat, and he put his hand to his head as he sighed. He rubbed the bridge of his nose, "Louisa, I, ahh, well, I'm not sure-"
"Are you upset, Martin? I'm quite stunned. I mean, I always thought about having a child, and after James, I suppose I hadn't let thought about any additional children. We haven't spoken of it. You're an only child. I'm an only child. Martin, I just thought that after we talked, with me still expressing milk and all—"
"Yes, yes," Martin nodded. "It is possible, obviously, from what you've discovered today, but it's not the norm at all, I mean, to get pregnant again this quickly," he said, glancing to Chris.
"Ahh, Mart," Chris chuckled, as he patted his shoulder. "The old guy still has it in him. Congratulations, Louisa!" Chris exclaimed. Martin's face reddened, and he took a deep breath. The phone was silent for several seconds. Finally, Martin spoke, and he softened his voice quickly after hearing what sounded like a sniffle.
"Are you alright, Louisa?" Martin asked in that tender voice he used with her.
"Yes, fine, I suppose. I mean, everything looks fine with me, with the baby. Martin, goodness, another baby. It's so fast! We barely have time to adjust to James. You aren't even living here."
"I'll take care of that," he said quickly. "I'll solidify a job as soon as possible. Louisa, the important thing is you are okay, and ahh," he blushed again, "that the fetus, I mean the child," he said, shaking his head as he tried not to slip into medical mode, "our child is okay."
"You do mean that?" Louisa asked. "I've just been shell-shocked, Martin, sitting here. I mean, it was bad enough learning about it and trying to get home. I don't even really remember getting home, but then, knowing I had to call you with this news. Well," she sighed, "I just worry about what you will think. I'm not trapping you with this family."
"I never would think the same!" Martin exclaimed. "Louisa," he said, and his voice dropped to its low, tender level, "you know that-"
He let it hang there, glancing to Chris as he drove. Louisa sighed and finished his sentence, "That you love me? Is that it?"
"Yes, yes," he nodded. "Ahh, I mean-"
"I love you too, Martin, and I'm trying to be excited about this child. I mean, I know I will be, but it is a bit of a shock right now. I suppose James was too, just different reasons. At least this time, we are married, and we are in this together. We are in this together, Martin, yes?"
"Of course!" Martin exclaimed. "I mean, what's done is done," he said, and he instantly shook his head. "That didn't come out as I wanted it to, but I mean, yes, we will be fine, all of us. James will have a younger sibling, barely a year younger, but we will manage."
"We'll manage," she sighed. "Right, that doesn't sound exactly joyful."
"Are you ahh, happy?" Martin asked her. "You always speak of being happy."
"I will be," she told him. "Am I allowed to be a bit shocked?"
"Yes, of course," he nodded. "As we know, this is a big change, Louisa, in many ways. Like before, you are advanced maternal age."
At that, Chris made a sound, and Martin glanced to him. Chris shook his head, indicating Martin should not bring THAT up right now. Apparently, Louisa agreed.
"Martin, for the moment, PLEASE do not mention that. I'm fully aware I'm even older than last time."
"Yes, but ahh, maybe this is the blessing in disguise. As you get closer to 40, it is more of a risk, so while not optimal timing, Louisa, better now than several years from now when much more could go wrong."
"Mart," Chris hissed at him and swatted his arm. Martin looked to him as if he couldn't understand the problem.
"Louisa, ahh, what did the doctor say exactly, other than to confirm the pregnancy?" Martin asked. "I would like to have all the details. I will call him if you believe that will help."
"No, no," she told him. "There's not much to tell right now, other than, yes, you dummy, Mrs. Ellingham, you can get pregnant after having a baby. You're tired," she said in her mocking tone, "oh, right, that would be the extreme tiredness from early pregnancy, something you didn't recognize!"
"Louisa," Martin sighed.
"Sorry," she muttered. "Again, just a bit shocked and even embarrassed I didn't know I was carrying a child. He said based on the information I told him and the little he could see, I'm about six, maybe seven weeks. He will do a better ultrasound later since I don't have exact dates to use. I mean, I didn't think everything was ahh, well, working properly yet if you get my drift."
"What?" Martin asked, and quickly he nodded, "Oh, yes, right. Alright."
"I just wish you were here, Martin," she said, and he was sure now he could hear a sniffle coming from her. He sighed.
"Yes, well, I will do my best to clear my calendar for the next few visits, and I do want to acquire a job and get moved quickly now with an added pregnancy. That does complicate things," he told her.
"You'll take a GP job then, or do you think you will be okay to get to surgery?" Louisa asked.
Martin glanced to his friend, who was pulling into the parking lot, "I'll do what I can to get this all sorted, Louisa."
"Right," she sighed. The two were quiet, and Chris parked. He gestured to Martin to take his time. Louisa broke the silence, "You do realize that a year ago, we were getting ready for that disaster of a wedding."
Martin grunted, "Yes, well, even with that, it does appear things worked themselves out."
"Right, just a lot of change in the last year, Martin. We've gone from not getting married, to my getting pregnant with James, to my moving here, to you following me and learning about my pregnancy, to the two of us trying to reconcile, to a wedding, a new flat, a baby, and well, now, another baby. Tis a lot."
"Yes, it is," he said with an audible sigh as he nodded. "That does not even address work, ahh, for either of us."
"Oh, work, my job!" Louisa exclaimed. "Martin, I hadn't thought of that yet. I've just been trying to digest all of this. I'm due to go back to work after the holiday. What, I'll be, ahh, gosh, almost halfway through another pregnancy. Oh, Martin," she sighed, "they are going to think I've gone bodmin showing up pregnant again."
"Yes, well," he said, flustered, "we can think and discuss. You don't have to work."
"But, I want to work, Martin," she told him. "I've enjoyed this time with James, but I really miss my students."
Martin pinched his nose again, wanting to comment that it would be ridiculous for her to go back to teaching with a baby and another on the way, but he also had enough sense to know this wasn't the time for that discussion.
"Louisa, ahh, let me have supper with Chris and discuss my options," he told her. "I will call you later."
"Yes, fine, Martin," she sighed. "Oh, no wonder my eggs made me almost nauseous!" Louisa exclaimed. "Morning sickness," she groaned. "Martin, I can't believe this again."
"Yes, quite shocking," Martin told her. "I will call you later this evening, yes?"
"I'm a bit tired, no," she paused, "I'm absolutely exhausted, Martin. I'm apparently growing another child of yours," she said, finally almost in another teasing tone. "Let's talk more tomorrow."
"Yes, yes," he nodded. "Hopefully, I will start to have some answers about a job. I can't have you there alone in your condition."
"I'm fully capable in my condition, as you put it," she snipped at him.
"Right, ahh," he paused.
"You tell Joan," she told him. "I can't bring myself to tell anyone. It's rather comical that a doctor and his wife are in this situation, yes?"
He grunted, "Not really. Medicine does not pick and choose."
"Yes, Martin, right. Say hello to Chris, that is, after he gets a good laugh out of this," she sighed.
"Louisa," he sighed too.
"I love you, Martin, and I'll be fine once this has sunk in," she told him.
"Yes, ahh, well," he blushed and quickly glanced to see Chris was looking at his phone. Before he disconnected, he quickly uttered, "Yes, I, ahh, love you too."