Martin & Louisa- Between you & me

Chapter 1

She couldn't stop smiling. She just could not stop. It was dusk and the warm breeze wrapped itself around her like a big comforting blanket. The sky had its soft, peachy glow and the waves were calmly bubbling at the bottom of the plat. She was home and she instantly felt soothed. Of course, she would only have to look to the left slightly to remind herself of her next task; speaking to Martin. She was unbelievably anxious, but it had to be done, she would just spend another few minutes enjoying the view before heading up. She took some deep breaths, she needed to stay calm.

The waves swished and swashed; a sound she knew well. With that came another familiar sound.

'Louisa?'

Her eyes expanded and she locked her focus on the sight in front of her. She panicked. Her heart beat so hard, she could feel it in her throat. Swiftly, she turned. And there he was. As if she had seen him only yesterday whilst at the same time, feeling like she hadn't seen him for a million years.

'Martin?' she said softly, almost a whisper.

Martin's eyes were just as shocked, and he stood completely still, almost statue-like.

'Louisa. How…How are you?' Martin felt just as anxious. He was on his way back from a late house call. Every minute of everyday, he imagined Louisa. Reminding himself of her stature, her smell, her looks. And now that she was right in front of him, he daren't believe it. He thought he'd never see her again. Everything around him became insignificant as he looked at her. He just looked at her. The next thing he looked at, completely took the wind from his sails.

'You're pregnant!' He froze.

Louisa looked down and smiled 'Yes. Yes I am.' She hated to admit it and would never have said it aloud but, Oh it was so good to see him. 'How are you, Martin?'

'Eer, er. I'm well. Thank you'. That was all he could manage. A thousand questions ran through his mind all at once.

'Good. That's good.' Louisa was avoiding eye contact and nervously played with her ponytail.

The awkwardness stood between them like a brick wall. A brick wall that neither of them knew how to tackle.

'I got a train from London. It was a long journey but er….. I'll be staying back at my place, the cottage. It's been empty for a few months so err yeah, may need a little dusting and probably a vacuum and I think I have some oven cleaner there als…..'

'Is it mine?' He never did beat about the bush. And he wanted to know; the answer was terrifying him.

'Yes it is. It's yours and mine' Louisa smiled. She really had no idea how this would go. 'Just under 3 months to go and being very busy in there' She laughed, hoping Martin would too. But he didn't and she understood. He had a lot to take in, so she decided to just let him take as long as he needed.

'Right. And err…Did you…I mean, have you…Do you..' he sighed heavily, he was getting frustrated with himself. 'Are you planning an abortion? If so, I think you may be eerr…pushing it. Slightly'.

She stopped. She knew it. She just knew it. She looked him straight in the eye. 'Like I just said Martin, 3 months to go and very busy..' the last of her words came out as a wobble and she had no choice but to walk away. At least she now knew that her decision to stay in London until now was the right thing to do.

'Louisa. Don't you think we need to discuss matters?'

'Discuss what exactly, Martin? You've just told me everything I need to know. Don't worry about a thing, Martin. It's not your problem!' She was either going to burst into tears or say something she may regret. Either way, the best thing she could do was to go home.

'No, no Louisa, Look, Louisa' It was too late. She was on her way home. In the space of a few minutes, he had got her back and then lost her all over again.

Louisa made her way fiercely up Dolphin Street. Whilst Martin made his way up the hill. She hoped and prayed that nobody would be around to see her in this way. She didn't want her friends seeing her angry and upset. She wanted to celebrate being home and being around friends. Martin had no such luck. It seemed to him that wherever he went, people felt the need to stop him and engage in inane conversation. Mrs Bromley was quickly walking towards him and he had zero tolerance, especially after that encounter with Louisa.

'Doc, Doc I'm glad I've caught you.'

'No.' Martin continued his path.

'Doc, wait. I wondered if you could do me a home visit?'

'No.'

'It's just that Mrs Argus told my new neighbour that you had visited her husband's cousin during out-of-hours. Could you do the same for me?'

'No.'

'Charming. So what makes Mrs Argus more special than me? If anybody deserves special treatment, it's not her!'

Martin took a deep breath. 'Special? Who do you think you are? Royalty? Shut up and go away!' he barked, before reaching the cottage.

5.45am and Martin sat bolt upright at his table wearing his suit still. He'd had not a wink of sleep. He had laid out his most recent clock project in front of him, although the most he had done was pick up a few of the small tools and look at them. He tried to make sense of it all. He put all the little pieces together and tried to come up with an answer for everything. Louisa pregnant? With his baby? Why had she not told him? Did she know before leaving? Maybe that's why she couldn't marry him? Maybe the thought of having his child was too much so she bolted? Who would want a child with him? How would Louisa manage? She didn't have a job? How would he manage? He didn't really want to be a father. Maybe Louisa would look for somebody else to help her raise the baby? Maybe she already had a new partner? Martin let out a huge sigh and rubbed his forehead. Anyway, he had to at least try and sleep. Surgery would be open in just a few hours and native portwenn's would still want him to investigate their ghastly ailments; baby or no baby on the way.