It was just after 3:00 the next afternoon when Louisa came down into the kitchen as Martin was making an afternoon espresso. He turned and gave her a nod, almost a smile of sorts for Martin, and then, he narrowed his eyes at her.
"Off somewhere?" Martin asked.
Louisa raised an eyebrow and gave an almost huff, "I am, but does that bother you?"
"Not in the slightest," Martin said in a clearly irritated tone. "You didn't mention going anywhere at lunch, and yet, you've changed and have your handbag," he said gesturing to her. "Where are you going?"
She sighed and dropped her shoulders, almost in an admission she didn't want to argue, "I spoke to Ruth this morning in the village when I took James on a walk. It came up that you would be out this evening, and she mentioned that she had to go over to Wadebridge to pick up something there, some medical colleague of hers, whatever it is," Louisa said waving her hand. "I offered to take her, and we decided to make an afternoon of it. We are taking James and going to do a bit of shopping, just a local shop there I like."
Martin frowned, "Ruth doesn't really enjoy shopping."
"No," Louisa nodded in agreement, "but she does enjoy spending time with James, with me," she added. "Plus, she enjoys getting out, seeing the countryside, and we'll get our own bite to eat while we are out. It seems we are both busy with our own plans."
"Louisa," Martin said her name and then thought before he continued. He put his cup down on the table, "If this is your attempt to get me to be upset-"
"No, Martin," she waved her hand. "I am sorry for how I acted last night. I know you would never cheat on me-"
"Cheat on you! Are you mad?" Martin asked. "I would never-"
"So, now I'm mad?" Louisa huffed. "Great, I've gone bodmin, Martin."
"You're the one who suggested I would seek out the company of another woman. Louisa, I can barely understand what you need, and we've been together some time now. You know that, that," he got flustered and red in the face, "that I love you. Why would I even consider?"
"Martin," Louisa said with a long sigh and shake of the head, "let's just," she said and bit her lip. "Let's call it hormones. I overreacted. You enjoy your work dinner, and I'll enjoy my time with James and Ruth."
He raised an eyebrow at her, but he nodded and very quietly replied, "Yes."
The two were silent for several moments while Martin checked his espresso machine. He turned back to her and cleared his throat. Both spoke at the same moment. Louisa got it out first.
"What time are you leaving?" Louisa asked.
"I was going to ask the same," he said with a nod. "I'm leaving after surgery, by half past five, no later."
She nodded, "Ruth is ready, and I'm going to go by to collect her. I suppose I'll get going."
He nodded and briefly embraced her while she collected her things and James. Before he could help her out the door, he heard a commotion with his patients and had to rush off to deal with them.
Martin worked through the rest of his afternoon and was surprised when, as he was ushering out his last patient of the day, Dr. Tillman appeared on his front steps.
"Martin, good evening," she smiled brightly. "I hope you don't mind, but it seemed fitting that research on coastal living conditions might best be done actually on the coast. You have a charming home, and I didn't realize you had this fantastic view of the sea."
"Oh, ahh, yes," he said, fumbling his words. He waved off his last patient, a Mr.-, well, he couldn't remember the man's name, just that the man had some bunions on his foot he wanted to have removed. Martin waved off the patient as he descended the stairs and turned back to Dr. Tillman. "Ahh, yes, the surgery was already here when I took over, and the view was here as well. I didn't exactly pick it."
She nodded and turned toward him smiling, "Well, it's absolutely beautiful. This village is so charming. Is see what keeps you here. I've never been down here, and now, I'm trying to understand why that is. So, may I step inside."
"Ahh, yes," he said, still a bit out of sorts as he gestured for her to come inside. "My receptionist left a few minutes ago. Dr. Tillman-"
"Jessica, please, Martin," she chuckled. "Surely, I shouldn't have to tell you that."
"Yes, yes," he waved as she stepped to the door. "Supper," he blurted out. "With you here, well, what are we to eat? It seems silly for us to both drive to Truro, that is, unless you are staying there?"
"Oh," she gestured, "I looked up the village before I drove down here and saw that your local pub has rooms available. I figured I would stay there. As for dinner, I'm very flexible. If you would rather work and order in-"
"No," he said bluntly. "That isn't a thing around here, not like London. There's not much in the option of take away, and most of it is rather ghastly."
"Oh, pity," she frowned. "I'm open to suggestions."
Martin looked around and felt like all eyes of the village were on him as he stood outside. He almost stepped around her to get back into the house. She followed, and she continued to follow him into the surgery area.
"Just let me get my laptop and paperwork," he said to her. "I suppose we can work at the kitchen table."
"Right, perfect," she nodded and looked around. "This is truly a home and office. I like it," she told him. She waited in the reception area while Martin gathered his things. When he stepped out of his office he caught her eye and nodded for her to follow him.
"Come through," he nodded to her. She smiled and followed him down the narrow hallway to the kitchen area. Martin nodded to the table and moved to put his things down to get to work.
"Tea?" Martin asked.
"That sounds lovely," she told him as she situated herself at the table. She glanced around the room. "Do your patients wait in here, I mean, if you are full in your waiting area? Do you share your living space with them?"
"No," he said, turning to her with a horrified look on his face. "This is strictly a residential space. Patients do not come in here. I barely allow my receptionist in here, but she does make coffee and tea-for me, that is."
"Right," she said glancing around. "The baby seat?" Jessica asked and waved toward it. Martin's eyes followed.
He very pointedly and quickly replied, "Belongs to James."
She looked at him with a questioning gaze, not understanding or following his comment. "James?" Jessica asked.
Martin put the tea down on the table for the two of them and moved around to take his seat. He looked toward her as he sat and answered at the same time, "Yes, James, my son. It's his chair."
"I didn't know you had a son!" Jessica exclaimed, eyes wide. "You've not mentioned a family. Are you married? Divorced?"
"Married," he said, now eyeing her as he was starting to grasp what Louisa had been suggesting the day prior.
"You never mentioned a family," Jessica shook her head. "I looked you up, and nowhere in any write-ups of you does it mention a wife or child. Are you separated? Where are they?"
"Away for the afternoon with my aunt," he said, now eyeing her. "Is something the matter? Not that I really am interested, but do you have a family?"
"No," she said, blushing and dropping her head as she said it, "far from it. I am not married, no family, and honestly, it's at the front of my mind. I'd like nothing more."
"I see," Martin stated as he opened his laptop and eyed her quickly. "My family found me, I suppose," he told her.
"Sorry?" she asked, shaking her head. "Whatever do you mean?"
"My wife, Louisa," Martin said, "she's from here, the village, a teacher, and well, never mind."
"Oh," she said quietly. "I'm just feeling a bit silly that I never knew and did not come across that information in any write up about you."
"I keep my private life, just that, private, except that these bloody villagers don't understand that concept."
The two were interrupted with the back door opening and Buddy running inside.
"No, no, no, get out," Martin shooed at the dog, and as he did, he caught a glimpse of Louisa stepping inside with James in her arms.
"Buddy," she called to him and at the same moment made eye contact with Martin.
"I saw your car-what about your dinner?" Louisa asked. As she asked that, Martin moved quickly, abandoning the idea of getting the dog and moving to take James from her. She had James balanced on her side with her very protruding stomach helping to balance him. James, who had started to kick and fuss upon seeing Martin, was trying to get to him and away from Louisa. Martin rescued James, thus, also helping Louisa. He directed his attention to her and nodded to the table.
"Dr. Tillman came here to the village to work on our research," he said. He gestured to her and back to Louisa.
"My wife, Louisa," Martin nodded toward Dr. Tillman as he held James. Louisa shut the door and eyed the woman seated at her kitchen table.
"Hello," Louisa said, almost curtly as she put her things down and looked to Martin. She glanced to Dr. Tillman and extended her hand, "Louisa Ellingham, Martin's wife. This is our son, James," she gestured to the squirmy baby, and then, she patted her stomach, "and this will be Liam," she said with a warm smile as she looked to Martin, who stood there, expressionless and then turned her attention to Dr. Tillman. "Dr. Tillman, it's nice to finally meet you. Martin has mentioned your project."
"Yes, very lovely to meet you too," Dr. Tillman stood and shook Louisa's hand. She looked around at the cozy family and shook her head, "Sorry, Martin didn't mention his family, so I'm a bit taken off. Very nice to meet you. It's Jessica, please."
"Jessica," Louisa stated through her teeth like there was a venom in the name. "Lovely, and well, sorry to interrupt your evening, but you did say you would be at dinner, Martin," Louisa looked up to him.
"Yes, well, the plan did change, but you also said you'd be out with Ruth," he told her.
"James," she nodded to the squirmy baby who was fussing, "seems to be cutting a tooth. He's a bit warm and was just fussy. Ruth and I decided it best to head home, and with my coming off my restricted bedrest-"
"Oh, I hope all is well," Dr. Tillman interjected.
"Pregnancy complications, but she's doing much better," Martin interjected as he felt James' forehead. "He's a bit warm," Martin frowned. He moved James to better lighting and opened his mouth to examine it. "Yes, not one, but two teeth are cutting."
"Afraid of that," Louisa mumbled. She turned to Dr. Tillman, "Have you children yourself, Jessica?"
"No," she blushed and looked to James as she spoke, "I must admit that I'd love to start a family. I'm working on that."
Louisa eyed Martin, and he felt himself turning red as he moved to get things for James. He glanced to Louisa and tried to avoid any smug looks from her.
"Yes, it's not always easy," Louisa nodded to her. "Martin is one of the few good ones," she said with a nodding smile. "I'm sorry. I am interrupting your work."
"We were just getting started," Martin blurted as he situated James with a toddler cup of water. He nodded to Louisa, "Have you eaten?"
"Earlier, yes, and I'm not hungry now, just a bit tired, as is James. I have half a mind to get him a bath and see if he will get to sleep early," she explained. "Don't mind me, though. I'll take him upstairs and get out of your way."
"I can be going," Dr. Tillman offered.
"No, no," Louisa smiled and shook her head, wanting to give Martin an "I told you so" look, but he didn't make eye contact with her. "You came all this way just to work with Martin, yes?" She nodded and smiled at the doctor, who gave her a nod and smile back.
"James and I will head upstairs. You two do whatever you need, and just know, Martin," she said with a glance to him that told Martin she wanted to scream that she was right all along, "I'm just upstairs."
"Yes," he said with a quick nod.
Louisa collected James and was quickly out of the space. Martin watched as she walked out of the room and finally turned his attention back to Dr. Tillman. "Ahh, yes, sorry about the interruption. Where were we?"
Dr. Tillman smiled, "We were just clarifying what a family man you are, something I didn't know, and something I very clearly see. With that information," she said with a warm smile and nod, "let's get back to our work. That way, I can say that my trip was partly successful."
Martin eyed her but moved around his paperwork. As he was getting his information situated, Dr. Tillman added, "You really have a lovely family, a beautiful wife, and gosh, two boys. I didn't see that coming at all, what a surprise, Martin."
He briefly glanced up, "To be honest, it's still a surprise to me. I'm a miserable bugger, or I was, still can be, and somehow, Louisa has changed everything."
"Well," Dr. Tillman cleared her throat, "let's get to work and see if we can change some opinions with our research, shall we?"
"Yes," Martin said with a quick nod. "Medical care needs to be our top concern."
He didn't want to look up. He could feel Dr. Tillman staring at him, not in a bad way, not after she'd met Louisa and James, but even he could feel things were a bit awkward. This feeling, though, was nothing like he would get from Louisa whenever he finally went up for the night. He just knew she would be up there, waiting for him, just waiting to tell him how right she was, right about Dr. Tillman. Martin did glance up finally after he noticed Dr. Tillman looking at her notes. She was somewhat attractive, yes, but she didn't hold a candle to Louisa. No one ever would.