Chapter 6

Sunday morning brought showers, sweeping in from the Atlantic. As usual, Martin was first up and he went downstairs to make breakfast. He was surprised when Louisa followed him not long after.

"Good morning Louisa, sleep well?" he asked with a glint in his eye.

Louisa favoured him with a look, "perfectly well, thank you darling" was her prompt response. Martin blushed and busied himself making the tea. They sat down to eat the scrambled eggs followed by toast and marmalade.

"Martin, if we're to be married at the end of October I think I'd better start looking for my dress as soon as I can. Would you like to take me to Joan's this morning, firstly so I can show her how lovely my ring is, and secondly I'd like to ask her to come to Truro with me to help me choose my dress?"

Martin acquiesced with a resigned sigh but said that they couldn't stay long as he had preparations to make for next week's patients. In fact, he also wanted to look at potential honeymoon destinations.

They arrived at Joan's in time for coffee. Joan was thrilled to see that Louisa had accepted her mother's ring and admired it's fit and looks on Louisa's hand. "I wondered whether it would fit you, because my mother had swollen hands due to arthritis."

"As you can see it's a perfect fit. Joan, I've a favour to ask of you? Martin and I would like to be married as soon as we can and have tentatively thought about Saturday 24th October as a possible date. We know this is very short notice and we still have the church and reception to arrange yet. Obviously, I need to start looking for my dress, so I wondered if you would like to go with me to Truro next weekend to help me choose?"

Joan looked shocked to be invited and began to tear up as she asked if Louisa was sure? "I'd be delighted to come, but don't you have a friend who would like to go?"

Louisa said "Well you know my mother is in Spain and won't be coming to the wedding, so I think I'd love to have you with me. I'll rent a car for the day and we'll see what Truro has to offer. What do you think?"

Joan's eyes overflowed as she joyously accepted the invitation. "What about you Marty? Are you going to buy a new suit?"

Martin said "unfortunately, my tailor in London won't have time to make me a new one so I'll be using my current "best" suit. Louisa, are you sure you are all right to drive down there? I understand it's been some time since you were last behind the wheel of a car?"

"I'll be fine Martin, you needn't worry about us. Anyway, I should have thought you would be glad not to go with us. Besides it's unlucky for the groom to see the dress beforehand."

Martin knew when he was beaten and was quietly relieved not to be going. "I have my usual patients to see, so yes that will be fine with me."

Louisa and Joan arranged a time for their departure next weekend before the happy couple took their leave. Joan pressed Louisa's hands in hers, "Thank you, my dear. Thank you" Louisa smiled and said, "See you, then."

Arriving back at Louisa's cottage, Martin set about collecting his things together. He declined her offer of lunch and swept her up in a warm embrace. "I'll miss you tonight," he whispered.

Louisa's eyes sparkled as she admitted that she too would miss him, and his hot body!

Martin blushed and said "Louisa!" He ducked his head and made his way to the door, giving her another passionate kiss before leaving, regretfully.

"I'll ring you tonight," she promised him.

Making his way into the kitchen at home Martin decided to do some washing and went to collect his dirty clothes. When he'd got enough for a load, he set the machine away and then made a sandwich for lunch. Going into his study later he opened his computer and studied possible honeymoon destinations.

Meanwhile, Louisa was similarly employed with the remains of her washing, and then settled down to finish the marking and lesson planning. When she'd finished both tasks, she went to her stock cupboards and debated what to have for dinner. She admitted to herself that her cooking expertise could be best described as 'basic'. She didn't feel like a full-blown dinner so opted for one of her childhood meals, beans on toast. She giggled as she thought of Martin's reaction if she served it up to him, one day!

The nights were drawing in at this time of the year so she went and brought the clothes in, before folding them into the basket. Some of the lighter blouses were dry, but most of the clothes were still a bit damp. Her underwear she took upstairs to the bathroom and draped on any available surface. The evening stretched before her, but she did have her new novel to start. Checking the time to see that she wouldn't be disturbing Martin's dinner she picked up her phone and called him. She heard the answerphone click in and an automated voice said "You have reached Portwenn Surgery, Dr Ellingham is unavailable to take your call right now. If it is an emergency, please call an ambulance. If you can wait a little longer, please make an appointment for next week. Thank you."

Louisa was surprised to hear the message as Martin hadn't said anything about being out tonight. She assumed he'd been called out by a patient. She set her phone down and picked up her book. Soon she was immersed in the murder story of her new book.

Meanwhile after viewing several honeymoon destinations, Martin was called out by a patient claiming to have pemphigus vulgaris, a painful blistering disease of the skin. He'd recognised the voice of Malcolm Raynor, one of his more hypochondriacal patients and fought the urge to tell him to wait until Monday to make an appointment. He knew that if he ignored the call Raynor would, in all probability, actually have that disease. He'd certainly described the symptoms accurately over the phone. Sighing, Martin got his bag and set out for Raynor's home. Upon arrival Malcolm opened the door and let Martin in. "Take a seat Mr Raynor and show me the blisters."

Malcolm rolled up a trouser leg and took off his sock, showing some slight blistering on his foot and thick crumbling toenails.

"Oh, for Heaven's sake," Martin snarled. You've called me out on a Sunday night for a simple case of athlete's foot! Martin prescribed a short course of fluconazole and told Malcolm to see Mrs Tishell the next day.

"Sorry Doc, I thought it was something really bad!" whined Malcolm. Martin grunted and left to go home. To cap it off it had started to rain and he only had his suit on, not a mac, and no umbrella.

In his consulting room he checked the contents of his bag and refilled both the bandage compartments and topped up his supply of paracetamol tablets. He stored the case under his desk before espying the flashing light on the phone. He looked at the caller's number and recognised Louisa's phone. He sat down and dialled her to see what she wanted. "Louisa, are you alright?" he asked when she picked up her phone.

"I'm fine, Martin. I said I'd call you tonight, remember?"

"Hmm, I'd forgotten you said that, actually. How was your afternoon? Did you get your marking done?"

"Yes, Martin I did. The afternoon was boring though, especially as I had my washing to finish as well as prepare for tomorrow. I missed you and so it's good to hear your voice." she explained. "Were you called out again this evening?"

"Yes, but you know I can't discuss my patients." he replied with finality.

"No problem, I'm not sure I'd want to know anyway." she said. "Other than that, what are you doing for the rest of the evening? I've started my new book."

"I'll be reading my BMJ's after fixing my meal. I've got to stay current in the medical world to keep up with any new developments or get a heads up for any plagues sweeping Cornwall. Well, influenza or the common cold actually."

"Plagues? Are we expecting any then?" she laughingly enquired.

"If we do, it will more than decimate the village, given their total disregard for hygiene and inability to stay off work." he grumbled. He pulled himself together and asked her if she would like him to come for dinner tomorrow night?

"Ohh, yes please Martin. I'll admit that cooking isn't one of my strong points, but I'll do my best. Is 6:00 o'clock a good time? Will you plan on staying over, too?" Louisa thought she heard him catch his breath before he replied, "Yesss." enthusiastically.

"Right, I'll let you go and prepare your meal. Goodnight, Martin. Love you"

"I love you" was his whispered response before his phone disconnected.